Cash Mob Surprises Something Safari

Saturday was rainy and cold, but started to get suspiciously full a couple minutes before 2 p.m. Pei-Lin Yap, the owner, became extra curious—even a little nervous—when this reporter walked in.  

Yap had no reason to be nervous, though. Soon afterward, Deephaven resident Bink Semmer surprised her with the news that Something Safari had been chosen as the site of a cash mob.

“I think this is great,” Yap said. “I think the surprise is icing on the cake.”

Cash mobs are events in which groups of shoppers flock to a single, local store in order to show support for small businesses in their community. At Something Safari, about a dozen women visited the store.

The cash mob was organized by a group of friends who’ve dubbed themselves the “Wise Women.” The friends get together for different events—ranging from bike rides to poker nights. After reading about cash mobs elsewhere, they decided they should bring the idea to the west metro communities they call home.

The group started in March when they mobbed in Minnetonka. After that, they decided it was Hopkins’ turn. Sharon Cizek, a Hopkins resident about 30 years, chose Something Safari after reading about it in the newspaper.

“It’s a fun little shop,” she said.

They spread the word on Facebook and on Saturday put their plan into action. As an added plus, the cash mob actually winds up benefitting two businesses because the women go out to eat at a locally owned watering hole when they’re done.

Yap had seen cash mobs on TV but couldn’t imagine one of the groups would visit her store.

“I never thought it’d happen to me,” she said.

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