Papi Jan Coffee

“Far away from Russia, in the heart of Armenia, in the city of Holy Etchmiadzin (also known as Vagharshapat), Russian immigrants had the idea to open a coffee and beverage café. Named after a family friend, a grandfather of the year, and the best neighbor in the world, Papi Jan café will become a new cozy place for tourists and locals alike. We had been considering the idea ever since we moved to Armenia, almost a year ago. However, we were not ready for this step back then. As time went by, we became more acquainted with the local population and traditions, and our neighbor Ando became a true friend to us. He has a wonderful and friendly family with children, grandchildren, and many relatives. He knows thousands of stories and always gives wise advice. His grandchildren call him Papi Jan (dear grandfather). That's how the name was chosen. Ando Jan was one of the first to welcome us to the new place and was always ready for coffee and friendly conversations. On the coffee table in his house, there was always green grapes. We are certain that even now it's still there. And it became a kind tradition. Traditions hold a special place in Armenia. It was precisely this that made us think a thousand times before saying "yes" to Ando Jan's proposal. One day, Ando hinted that we could use his premises for any commercial experiments free of charge. We took this responsibility hyper-seriously. We wanted everything at once: To facilitate the assimilation process for good people who are moving to Armenia, to the city of Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin). To create jobs for locals and immigrants. To equip workspaces and leisure areas with the possibility of bringing laptops or tablets to work, combining a calm remote work (or job search) with beverage preparation. To offer discounts, give gifts, and delight the residents and guests of Vagharshapat with truly delicious drinks and coffee (even with milk, which everyone can have). To create an atmosphere and interior that would evoke the era of Ando's best memories. To support Armenia through taxes. To share the income with Ando, without accepting his refusal. We are glad that his premises will become more beautiful and better. To welcome people with animals (while adhering to all measures: discipline, hygiene, size). When we finally settled on the idea, we returned to Ando and accepted his offer. It didn't matter to us that the premises had been abandoned for several years and required restoration. We firmly decided to do it. And not only Ando, but also our neighbors and friends came to our aid. It surprised and touched us. We collectively managed to complete the quite challenging renovation with minimal losses. As cliché as it may sound, this place has a history. Ando used to have a butcher shop there, and his wife sold vegetables. Now we dedicate this place to freedom, equality, and mutual assistance. And most importantly—to our Papi Jan. Not all stories need an ending; some should happily continue.”