Artisanal Café & Bakery - Trafiq Café & Bakery

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sergio Salamonovitz, chef and owner of Trafiq Cafe & Bakery, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a neighborhood café and bakery in the heart of Main Street in Vancouver. The neighborhood has such a village vibe. Most of our customers are people who live nearby, work nearby, run a business nearby. We are also grateful to attract a wider clientele, people make special trips to our place when they are in Vancouver, and for us, that is the greatest compliment. Our cafe is a dynamic place filled with Moms and babes, couples, friends. We are a respite for people who need a place to hang out solo and have personal time. Sometimes the whole darn extended family comes to Trafiq..oh boy, that's fun! We like to feel that we are an extension of our community and beyond and that we are a place filled with good food and good people.

Tell us about yourself

I was an engineer before turning pastry chef, followed by an entrepreneur. In between those two divergent career paths, I took a year off and traveled much of the United States and Mexico. I was most fortunate to have this endless stretch of time before me where I could swing out of the hammock, jump in the ocean and live a simple, pared-down life. That time gifted me perspective and answers to very specific life questions. Like, what work will I do that gives me joy and sustenance. So, I made a list. The first one on the list was cooking, followed by carpentry. But my engineer brain told me to start with the first one. I thought if I was a trained chef, I could travel anywhere in the world and find work. That sounded pretty good to my 26-year-old self. It's been a wild 25+ years, and I am blessed to have found my passion, so doing what I love doesn't feel like work.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Sustaining this business, thriving in this business with the myriad of truly, day-to-day challenges and barriers and hardships that come with running this place. Honestly, I think my greatest accomplishment is that I can't wait to come to work every day. I look forward to working with my team; I love to get my hands in the dough and shape a beautiful sourdough loaf. I love that my engineer brain and academic training serve Trafiq. I love it all, whether it is tweaking a cake component recipe or fixing the dishwasher. I'm a problem solver.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

My time is not always, not often, my time. The business comes first. Sometimes that's a hard thing.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

You require perseverance, passion, and personal motivation to own and operate a business. A strong work ethic makes you push beyond your personal limits. It allows you to overcome the day-to-day challenges and communication in every direction, allowing you to build a strong team and a great customer base.

Before we arrived at our special place here on Main Street, I operated several businesses. Each one has brought me to this day. I view and value the past as a stepping stone and a learning experience. Lifelong Learning and an open mind are words I live by.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://trafiq.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trafiqmain/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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