In the suburbs of northwest Calgary, amidst strip malls and big box stores, you’ll find a tiny and bustling independent coffee shop: Fenyk Coffee & Social. I’ve chosen herbal tea for the evening as the guy at the till launches into an excited story about the Sarjesa Tea that he stocks, and then tells me his own narrative.
“I studied biochemistry and now I’ve opened a coffee shop,” says Pardeep Sooch during a busy evening rush. Steam rises from locally roasted coffee. The hum of conversation mingles with the rhythmic hiss of the espresso machine. This thriving independent coffee shop across from Churchill High School and Northland Mall has evolved from concept to cornerstone in just one year.
Sooch’s journey to cafe ownership follows an unexpected path. “I have a biochem degree, then shifted into project management, and then became an actor for almost seven years,” he says, tracing the constellation of experiences that led him here. After years in the entertainment industry, he recognized the limits of his creative career. “I was at a bottleneck for work getting done. In order to scale, I cannot add three more hours to the day.”
When a friend approached him about commercial space in the neighbourhood where Sooch grew up, the timing felt magical. The big box coffee chains in the area like Starbucks had been retreating one by one, leaving a void that called to him.
The name “Fenyk” whispers its own origin story. Stylized from “Fennec,” it references the desert-dwelling fox known for its community-oriented nature. “Fennec foxes are very loyal, community-driven animals,” Sooch says. They mate for life, find other family pods, and burrow in the same den together.”
This philosophy of interconnection defines every aspect of the business. “The store is my fox den, where every aspect is built by the community.”
True to this vision, Fenyk sources everything locally. Rosso Coffee Roasters supplies the beans, Sarjesa provides the tea, and Sweet Rice contributes gluten-free donuts. Korean-style sandwiches arrive fresh from My Picnic just down the street. Each item tells its own story of local craftsmanship in an area once dominated by corporate uniformity.
Most coffee shops struggle for years, but Fenyk defied expectations. “We’re cash positive, where we hit a profit within 10 months,” he says.
After just one year, Fenyk has already expanded to a second location near WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, which is set to open on June 2. It will feature a full kitchen serving artisanal bagel sandwiches, evening pizzas, and a three-season patio.
Sooch credits his team with Fenyk’s rapid success. “The staff actually care. They’re taking ownership of it, too,” he says. “How I tend to lead is, I’m that foundation for you to grow and develop into whatever path you want to take.”
This approach has transformed what might have been just another transitional job into something meaningful. One staff member with a finance background who initially planned to stay only a few months is now Sooch’s right hand in operations.
Sooch worked 12 to 15 hours a day for nearly 300 days straight until the first location opened. “Everyone glorifies running your own business, but they don’t understand the amount of sacrifice it actually takes,” he says.
Despite his ambitious plans — he’s already eyeing a third location and hopes for five or six locations within a couple of years — Sooch remains hands-on in a way that defies the usual trajectory of successful entrepreneurs.
“What I love about the coffee shop is I get to make someone’s day just a little bit better, whether it’s just having a conversation, getting to know them, helping them feel seen,” he says. “It’s fun to be a part of people’s lives.”
As Fenyk continues to grow, that community-first vision remains at its heart, a promise as warm and inviting as the perfect cup of locally roasted coffee on a cold Calgary morning. Just as Sooch transformed from biochemist to actor to entrepreneur, he’s now transforming his community, one careful cup at a time.
Visit Fenyk at 110, 5049 Northland Dr. N.W. and online at fenykcoffee.com.
Sarjesa Tea’s Social Enterprise Journey
Sarjesa Tea represents something more profound than a comforting cup of tea. Each blend tells a story of social purpose borne from academic roots.
“It started as a school project,” says Alexandra Daignaul. As a student at Mount Royal University, a class project sparked an idea that would evolve into a growing social enterprise.
She began by wanting to address domestic violence against women. Now, through tea’s international supply chain, she’s examining global patterns of violence against women. Starting initially with donations of proceeds to charities that support women facing domestic violence, Sarjesa now works directly with farmers and empowers women with jobs and training through her supply chain.
Local experiments range from providing housing subsidies for women growing peppermint to creating educational workshops bridging regulatory gaps for small-scale producers.
“I’m definitely not an entrepreneur who has it all figured out,” Alexandra admits, rejecting the glossy success narrative. Her company works with over 50 farms, developing frameworks to ensure economic empowerment for women producers. Her vision carried Sarjesa from an Etsy shop to Sobeys shelves across Alberta.
“Even if you start with an imperfect model, keep working at it. Keep improving it,” she advises younger entrepreneurs tackling complex issues.
Each Sarjesa purchase represents more than just tea. It’s an investment in ongoing learning, in questioning existing models, and in the radical belief that business can actively confront generational injustice.
Sarjesa Tea is available at Fenyk Coffee & Social and online at sarjesa.com.
