Realizing a dream job in Serpent River First Nation
October 23, 2015
By Leslie Knibbs
SERPENT RIVER FIRST NATION — Realizing a dream is something we all aspire for. Jay Kozeyah, a young father with two hockey playing boys is not different than the rest of us.
Three years ago this young man from Serpent River decided he wanted to open a cafe serving free trade organic coffee, healthy lunches and decadent desserts. This was his dream. Today, three years later, he has realized his dream and opened what he refers to as “a little corner of cafe paradise” at the SRFN Gas Bar and Trading Post aptly called “The Kozeyahhh Cafe.”
Kozeyah spent two years researching and planning by attending seminars at Waubetek Business Development Corporation at Birch Island and at Sault College. To determine if his dream business was viable, data was garnered from the Sudbury Business Centre. He gathered statistics as to traffic flow on Highway 17 where his business is located. Fine tuning his planning, Kozeyah was able to approximate his average sale to be $7.00 per customer based on current figures he obtained. With detailed information, he factored in all the variables determining his dream could indeed be a reality…with hard work, dedication and regular hours.
With all his research complete, Kozeyah approached Brent St Denis at the SRFN Economic Development Corporation with his ideas. Shortly thereafter, with a firm business plan established, a proposal was put to the Economic Development Corporation. To encourage this kind of entrepreneurism, St Denis and his group approved the proposal. An agreement allowing certain business accommodations to nurture this business such as lease hold improvements involving plumbing and electrical as well as appropriate rent to foster this small business was put in place enabling Kozeyah to turn his dream into a reality.
With all the pre-planning finished, new equipment was purchased including a state of the art cappuccino/espresso machine, a frozen yogurt machine, stainless steel coolers and a gleaming stainless steel work area. Product? Well, Kozeyah didn’t hold back offering four varieties of fair trade coffee with freshly roasted organic beans from St. Joseph Island Coffee Roasters are available. Where can you get a fresh hot cup of coffee where the beans were roasted shortly before brewing? Simple answer: nowhere else on the North Shore. Jay’s customers can enjoy fresher than fresh pastries such as custard cakes, chocolate cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake and my favourite, fresh canolli — a deep fried sweet Italian pastry with a soft cheese and candied fruit filling. All pastries are fresh baked the night before delivery from Delicia Bakery and Pastry in Toronto. The lunch menu is a work in progress including sandwiches on fresh baked buns, salads and steaming hot soups. Kozeyah asks customers to give him suggestions for lunch items. Since opening, the cafe has been able to add one new lunch menu item each week on customers’ requests.
The cafe’s mission is “to provide the customer with the highest quality foods, desserts and coffee possible while using environmentally friendly products”. Like many other aspiring entrepreneurs, this young man did his research, planned his venture and in the end realized his dream.
The cafe is located at the SRFN Trading Post Gas Bar. Seasonal hours at this time are Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm with extended hours during the summer tourist season.