From walking and selling cakes to owning a modern café

Oct 30, 2022 News

A Linden businessman tells his story…

Kaieteur News – Every entrepreneur dreams of their business expanding and gaining more recognition. When young Lindener Collin Small started walking and selling sliced cakes in bread bins before doing so under a tent on the Mackenzie Market pavement, he did envision making it big in the culinary industry but the idea of one day owning a café seemed very far-fetched. It was not until Small, who is also a medical student, went to the United States for vacation, that such a vision erupted in his mind.

Linden Entrepreneur, Collin Small

Today, that vision has now manifested in becoming a reality with the establishment of ‘Colvin’s River Side Café’, which opened its doors a few weeks ago.

Some of the delicious meals offered at the Café

Collin started selling cakes while attending the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School and continued through his tertiary education. “When I was in Form Four, my mom taught me how to bake cakes and after I started baking, people use to buy the cakes from me and I thought this can be a big business for me. I spoke to my mom and she got me a table and a tent and I set it up. I started selling $200.00 a slice,” Small shared about his early days in business.

With his product becoming a hit on the market, he wanted to meet the demand and established a tent where there was more foot traffic. That venture was very successful and he expanded to selling breads as well. Seeing that there was a demand for quality baked goods in Linden, he knew he had to expand even further but didn’t know how to do so. “When I was on vacation I was observing these different cafés that were 24-7 and I said I can provide this service for my customers in Linden and it won’t be that fatiguing that I have to go somewhere, drive around, set-up and so forth, so I spoke with my mom and I told her my vision and she was fully supportive of me,” Small said.

All excited about his plans, he began to sell more cakes to secure capital to establish his café, since it had to be built from scratch. While construction started, he was creating a menu focused on breakfast and lunch services but with 24hrs baked products being available.

Colvin’s River Side Café

On September 29, last, ‘Colfin’s Riverside Café’ was officially opened. The concept of eating at the side of the peaceful Demerara River was a great catch as it catered for tourists, since there is now an influx in Linden. The meal options are a mixture of local and continental and is currently the only dining establishment in Linden, where such a wide variety of meals can be enjoyed. The ambiance is contemporary and high-toned and provides the perfect background for selfies. Since opening, Lindeners are flocking to get an experience of ‘Colfin’s Café.’ “The response is tremendous, people has embraced the breakfast and dinner concept…….for breakfast we have waffles, pancakes, bacon, roti, sandwiches, wraps and you can have these with a variety of sides and beverages. We have a variety of coffees to choose from in our coffee section. For dinner we have bake or grilled fish, alfredo, chicken however you want it, steak, whatever you want the chef will prepare it for you,” he explained.

Lindeners enjoying an afternoon lime at the café’s entrance

At ‘Colfin’s Café’, quality is prioritized and customers can guarantee healthy, well prepared, well-presented, tasty meals. Collin related that his mother sent his sisters overseas to participate in a chef’s course where they learnt the ‘know-how’ about restaurant cooking and plating. It brings him great joy to see his customers whom he once served on the streets, now supporting him at his fancy eating house. “Transitioning from seeing the customers on the street, to actually coming and sitting and dine, even if it is just to drink a beer and seeing them support, is actually bringing a feeling of joy.”

While the establishment of Linden’s first riverside café’ is a major achievement for Collin, he said he is already starting to work on his long term goal, which is to have a national franchise with the brand.