Arifa Malik ’27 always dreamed of opening a cozy cafe that reflected who she is. This summer, she made it happen. On July 5, the business administration major and her sisters, Ayesha Malik and Amina Nadeem, opened Malkanis’ Cafe across from Gaebe Commons on Johnson & Wales University’s Downcity campus in Providence, R.I. The menu puts the flavors of their Pakistani heritage front and center, from cardamom and saffron lattes to halal savory pastries.

Running a business while earning her degree hasn’t been easy, but Malik isn’t doing it alone. Between hands-on classes and a mentor at JWU’s Larry Friedman Entrepreneurship Center, she’s learning to solve real business problems as they happen.

Bringing the Flavors of Home to Providence

When Malik and her sisters started planning, they asked themselves one question: With so many coffee shops around, what would make theirs different? The answer was already in their kitchen at home.

“My mom cooks everything at home. Cardamom, we always put it in our chai. We put it in desserts,” Malik shared. “All these little things have always been in our house.”

The sisters turned popular Pakistani desserts like rasmalai and gulab jamun into lattes, and cardamom shows up in nearly everything, even the pumpkin spice latte. Their specialty syrups are made in-house with just sugar, water and spices. “It’s very time-consuming, but you can control the quality,” she said.

The food menu is halal, too. “When we go to a coffee shop, we have to ask about the croissants, because a lot of pastry products have gelatin,” Malik explained. “We wanted a menu Muslims can eat, and if a Muslim can eat it, anyone can eat it.”

Consistency matters just as much as flavor. Malik noticed that coffee at other shops tasted different depending on who made it. So every drink at Malkanis’ follows a set recipe using organic espresso from New Harvest Coffee Roasters. She saw that same focus on a JWU study abroad trip to Italy, where cafes are all about authentic espresso. “What I brought from there was making sure my espresso is dialed in,” she said. “I’m serving a good cup of coffee without the need of a syrup.”

Learning From a Mentor at the Launch Pad

From the start, Malik has leaned on Jeff Binczyk ’23 DBA, director of the Larry Friedman Entrepreneurship Center, also known as the Launch Pad. He’s offered ideas big and small, like putting a sandwich board out front to draw in foot traffic. He also connected her with Professor Bryan Lavin ’11 MBA, ’24 DBA, to grow the cafe’s marketing through social media and podcasts.

“He’s been connecting me to everyone,” Malik said. “He has a very open mind. If this happens, you find another way. I think he has a very problem-solving mindset, and that’s what you need as an entrepreneur.”

That mindset is coming in handy now. Making all of the food fresh to order led to long wait times, so Malik is meeting with Binczyk to rework the menu. One option is shifting toward savory pastries that can be heated quickly.

“Arifa launched her innovative Providence cafe concept, while at the same time listening to customers and adjusting her business plan,” said Binczyk. “Every business challenge and problem she brings into The Launch Pad, from wait times to marketing, is a chance to practice skills she’ll use for the rest of her career.”

From Biology Major to Business Owner

Malik didn’t start out in business. She studied biology at the Community College of Rhode Island with plans for medical school, then transferred to Rhode Island College before finding her fit at JWU. “I’m a very introverted person, but I definitely enjoy the classes more here,” she said. “The professors are very hands-on, and most of them are specialized in their field, so you get to learn a lot from them.”

She’s also the first in her family to go to college, and she and her sisters opened Malkanis’ without taking out a loan. “We’ve just been doing it on our own,” she said.

Balancing a full course load with a new business is “very tough,” Malik admitted. Her sisters cover the cafe while she’s in class, and she takes over afterward. She also manages the DoorDash and Uber Eats menus, staff training, a tiny storage space and deliveries that all come through one front door. “It’s like a very big puzzle,” she said.

The effort is paying off. Two JWU students work at the cafe, and it has built a group of regulars. “Anyone who walks through the doors and tries the coffee, they come back,” Malik said.

Looking Ahead

With a full year of classes still ahead, Malik plans to keep bringing what she learns back to the cafe. She’s considering adding an entrepreneurship minor and may pursue a master’s degree in marketing. She’d also love to partner with JWU baking and pastry students, possibly by hosting a night where they can show off their work.

Long term, she wants to perfect this location before opening a larger one, all while sharing Pakistani culture with Providence. “Pakistani culture is very big on hospitality,” she said. “You can be a stranger walking down the street, and someone will offer you a cup of tea.”

Her advice for students who dream of starting a business? “Definitely have a plan. When I was starting, it looked like a lot, but you just keep checking one thing off the box and the finish line gets closer,” Malik said. “If you’re really passionate about something, go for it. Don’t think about what people are going to say.”