“They succeeded with only $25” Journal de Montréal and Journal de Québec

source : https://www.journaldequebec.com/2020/01/05/comment-un-couple-dimmigrants-a-reussi-avec-seulement-25

A Yugoslav couple who arrived in Quebec in 1995 with only $25 in their pockets managed to found a coffee roasting business that is preparing to pass into the hands of their children.

Nikolina and Predrag Okuka founded Café Castelo just one year after arriving in Quebec City. Fleeing the war, they left their native Yugoslavia with very little besides their determination and their shared passion for coffee. Their daughter Anja was very young, while her brother Nicolas was not yet born.

“We didn’t speak French. We didn’t even know where we were going. Everything was new, the culture, the climate. We started from scratch. Now, when I think back on it, I wonder if I would have the courage to do it again, but life has a funny way of working out. It’s better not to know what awaits us. When you have no choice, you are capable of doing a lot of things,” confided Nikolina Okuka, who is also an accomplished artist.

Awarded several times for her talent, this courageous woman opened an art gallery above the café on Cartier Avenue, where she presents her own works, but also the works of up-and-coming artists.

Rapid growth

Although she and her partner are still very active in the business, Anja is playing an increasingly important role. The young woman distinguished herself by winning the 2018 Young Business Personality of the Year award from the Quebec City Junior Chamber of Commerce.

In five years, the company has experienced 80% growth. In addition to having two storefront cafés in Quebec City, Café Castelo owns a roasting plant in Lévis. It supplies hotels, restaurants, offices, as well as a dozen independent cafés. "We've diversified," says Anja, who holds the position of Director of Business Development.

A father's pride

Predrag is proud of his family's journey, especially since 25 years ago, he and his partner arrived in Quebec with only $25 in their pockets, the couple recalled in an interview with Newspaper.

"The important thing is to prepare the children calmly so they can continue. The more space they take up, the more we can withdraw," says Mr. Okuka.

According to him, there's no point in living in the past. Anja and Nicolas bring new ideas that allow the company to adapt to change.

“Life is a constant learning process. That’s how we evolve. It’s not by staying in the same mold,” he acknowledges. 2020 promises to be a very busy year for Café Castelo, which is cooking up a major project.

"Ultimately, what's important to me is that my children are happy," adds Nikolina.