The Power of Passion and Community: Nara Khakurel's Coffee Talk Cafe Towson Celebrates 9 Years

In a era marked by division among many Americans, one Towson entrepreneur, who immigrated from Nepal to pursue the American dream, remains steadfast in his pursuit. Last Friday morning, March 7th, Nara Khakurel, the owner of Coffee Talk Cafe on Pennsylvania Avenue, welcomed friends, family, and the community to celebrate the café's ninth anniversary. Clearly a testament to the man he is, and the impact he has made on his community, the event drew a remarkable turnout. Hundreds of attendees, included friends, family, customers, and even Baltimore County Community leaders, all gathering to congratulate Nara on his journey, which has not been without its challenges.

Nara, who immigrated to United States from Nepal in 2015, came to the U.S. specifically to “continue his journey as an entrepreneur” and to capitalize on all of the opportunities America has to offer. When he founded Coffee Talk in 2016, he says he “dedicated his working life to providing nourishment to the community – both physically and spiritually”. Nara has worked extremely hard to provide a wholesome environment in the heart of Towson for those who have discerning palates, and who enjoy the welcoming space offered by Coffee Talk and its dedicated staff. You don’t have to spend much time with Nara to see how much he loves what he does, and how much he enjoys serving and giving back to the community.

It’s hard not to be inspired by Nara, and I personally couldn’t wait to ask him a few questions about what drives him as an entrepreneur and how specifically he has been able to overcome the challenges that nearly every restaurant faced during and after the Covid pandemic.

5 QUESTIONS WITH NARA

Congratulations on your 9th anniversary Nara! Why did you decide to open Coffee Talk Cafe in Towson, nine years ago?

Thank you! Well, when I came to the United States at the end of 2015, I wanted my entrepreneurship journey to keep striving. This journey started in Nepal around 2005 after the completion of my Food and Beverage studies in Singapore, in 2001. With 15 years of hospitality experience under my belt, I wanted to serve more people and share the stories of my life, and I thought the Coffee Shop would be the best platform for me. While looking into different locations in some states, it happened that we found this great spot in the heart of Towson.

From your perspective, as a Towson business owner, how has Towson changed over the past nine years?

Everything is temporary but change. So, obviously, over the years we saw changes. Our team has been proudly serving Towson since 2016, and I can confidently tell that Towson is a great location for business, education, shopping, housing, and more. It has something for everyone. There are many changes that took place in Towson, as it happens in most of the downtown areas of other places as well. It is totally up to us to choose what we focus on - the good changes, or the bad changes?

I keep hearing about Towson businesses that are supposedly closing because of safety and security issues, which I disagree with. Sometimes businesses open without doing enough advance research on the area, the market, and the demographics, for example, and they may end up not lasting for long. It could be that certain business models may not fit every town. Some business owners decide to close the business because they ran pretty well for decades and the next generation may have different plans or interests. So, overall I don’t think it is fair that Towson gets judged as a whole as the result of a certain businesses closing for very different reasons.

We as community members, have a responsibility to take care of our surroundings. I can see many residents from Towson dining in local restaurants, shopping in malls, and other retail stores. I am sure we can do better when we unite for a common goal, which can bring good changes in Towson.

What are some of the key ingredients to your success? What are some things that you have learned over the past 9 years that were critical to the survival of your business, especially during Covid?

The most important ingredient is passion. When I started Coffee Talk in 2016, it was a new path, full of adventures, challenges, opportunities, and uncertainties, especially for someone like me who was not born and bred here. But the passion to serve people made me stronger and able to adapt to different stages of ups and downs, Then I started realizing when we do things that we love, it does not feel like work at all, it's always a learning experience with fun. That passion has now become my profession.

The other ingredient is determination with dedication. When we were hit by Covid, I spent more than 12 hours a day driving Uber and Lyft in order to pay the rent and prevent the café from going under. It was a real struggle but I did not stop my full commitment to continue the entrepreneurship. As a result, we overcame the pandemic.

Your family and community were well represented at your 9th-anniversary event, can you speak to the importance of your family and the Nepali-American community in your life and how family factors into business success?

My success comes from my family and community. I have always wanted to share the joy of success with them. That was the reason why my wife took a day off from her work and the kids went 2 hours late to school, so my family could see the celebration and its importance. I also always keep in my mind that who I am today in Towson is because of my community, and I am continuously looking to do things on how can I give back to the community. The day of our 9th year celebration, the coffee shop was packed with our customers, well-wishers, friends, and community leaders. It was an amazing experience and a lifetime memory for me to witness the support we received from the locals and beyond.

I also thank the support of Maryland’s 20,000-strong Nepali-American community that enabled me to stay in business.

Why should people who have never been to Coffee Talk Towson come in for a visit?

Coffee Talk is not just my café, it is an important part of our neighborhood. As we know small local businesses reflect the locality, so we welcome everyone to visit us and feel great about Towson. For those, who continuously support us, we are grateful for your friendship and we are always excited to meet new friends at the café.

We strive to make a positive difference in your day and in the lives of all. Remember, good vibes are served with every order. All are welcome, and all are appreciated.