Meet the 21-Year-Old Entrepreneur Behind This Seventeen-Themed Cafe in Cavite
Many of those who love K-Pop would tell you how their idols’ music pulled them up from rock bottom. From regaining their confidence and finding new passions to forging friendships and building a community, K-Pop has become so much more than a source of entertainment to fans. For Samantha Iris Garcia, a third-year Communication student at De la Salle University-Dasmariñas, South Korean boy group Seventeen (SVT) opened up opportunities for her that would later catapult her entrepreneurial journey.
Twenty-one-year-old Sammy owns Caratreats Café, a homey coffee shop in Cavite that is touted as the first Seventeen-themed café in the country. While Sammy had an experience in manning a business prior to her café — a formal wear shop that bore the brunt of the lockdowns and a small baking business in their neighborhood — it was still a huge gamble for Sammy, then 19, to open a coffee shop at the height of the pandemic.
When their family’s atelier had to shutter due to lack of customers amid the lockdown, Sammy found a distraction, and then a hobby, in baking. She sold brownies and cookies around their village not just as an extra source of income but also as a bonding activity with her parents. That small business also helped her family deal with the loss of their house at the time.
“Baking has become a bonding experience for [me and my parents]. While baking and cooking sparked joy for my parents, Seventeen became my only source of happiness during that time,” Sammy told The Beat Asia in an interview. “With our very last money, we decided to merge all the things we loved and open up Caratreats Cafe. We wanted to make it special by incorporating everything that has helped us through all the trials and tribulations.”
SVT’s Influence
Located across SM Dasmariñas, Caratreats Café is a candyland for anyone who admires the 13-member boy group. SVT’s merch and memorabilia festoon the space, with albums stacked in shelves and photocards of the members adorning the walls. Caratreats Café’s menu is also influenced by SVT and the South Korean street food scene. Their pasta sizes are named after some members: Hosh (solo), Won (3-5 pax), Coup (6-8 pax), and Sol (10-12 pax), with prices ranging from P239 to more than P1,000. A milk tea flavor popular on their menu — Carat Pop — is a homage to SVT’s fanbase.
Meanwhile, kimchi fried rice and tteokbokki are on offer for those looking for their fill of Korean snacks, as well as a litany of milk tea, coffee, and desserts. Sammy makes the cakes and other goodies from scratch, with the help of her trusted bakers, while the pasta dishes are secret family recipes. Their best-sellers include Baked Red Pasta With 4 Cheese (starts at P239), Creamy Pesto Pasta (starts at P239), Chocolate Fudge Brownies (starts at P129), Campfire Cookies (starts at P169), Carat Pop (P119), Babo Latte (P169), Rose Tteokbokki (P209), and Revel Bars (starts at P209). Aside from snacks and drinks, Caratreats sells fan-made SVT merchandise like mugs, tote bags, and official photocards and albums. As part of their expansion, the café is set to launch a clothing line inspired by SVT’s latest albums “Sector 17” and “Face the Sun.”
When asked why she chose SVT as the inspiration behind her café, Sammy said: “Because there is truly no one else like Seventeen. These people really grew up together and probably know each other better than they know their own selves… Their talent is absolutely impeccable, and I adore how they keep their feet on the ground.”
Difficult decisions paved the road that led to the birth of Caratreats. Sammy and her family had to decide whether to spend the little money they had on her college enrollment or invest in a café in hopes of generating a steady stream of income to later sustain her education. It was a huge gamble that they boldly took, and only a few years later, it seems to be paying off.
“Without a doubt, I chose [to invest in a business] and I don't regret any bit of it,” Sammy told The Beat Asia.
“Don't get tired of exploring and believe in yourself. If a 19-year-old was able to build a business because of her love and passion for baking and Seventeen then so can you,” she said when asked for advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Caratreats Café is on the second floor of Millenium Building across SM Dasmariñas. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get updated on their latest menu items and SVT merchandise.
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