To implement a creative idea and take care of the highest quality of services is an achievable goal for Yuriy Hrytsak, a veteran and entrepreneur from Lviv region. We visited Yuriy’s family cafe, where customers can enjoy flavored drinks and… real ants! But first things first.
Yuriy Hrytsak started his military service back in 2014. He served as an engineer supporting Ukrainian troops. Later he was demobilized and returned to civilian life. He studied English and took special courses to start his own business.
Together with his wife, Yuriy decided to start his own business and create a place of recreation for families in his native Vynnyky. This is how the idea for “Coffee Ant” came about. It is easy to find on the map of veteran businesses created by LUN, the UVF, and Uklon. This interactive map includes veteran cafes, workshops, and shops. The map is constantly being updated, so it is now even easier to support veterans and their families.
According to Yuriy, the café’s highlight is one of the world’s largest formicariums. The house for the ants was made by craftsmen from Kharkiv. It was a laborious job, because the project is unique in scale and form. The farm is inhabited by a colony of Italian ants. Two years ago, they arrived in a test tube. Now the colony has grown considerably. In a few years, they will populate all the nests of the mega-formicarium.
Mariana, the veteran’s wife, emphasizes: “This species of ants is special — they don’t eat sugar at all, only grain. They are also undemanding and independent. Each ant has its own role. There are workers, those who carry food, others clean up, and there are scouts and warriors, etc. Watching them is very interesting for both adults and children. It is also calming to watch them.
The cafe has been open for 2 years and is a Point of Invincibility, and also serves as a shelter during air raids. As locals say, “the ants” serve hot tea and freshly baked croissants. The owners purchased the special stove with the funds of the reimbursement program from the UVF.
The veteran recalls: “We used to rent the equipment and it was quite low-quality. We wanted the best for our customers. So, we bought a new oven to bake croissants, bread and other things. We received the funds under the reimbursement program from the UVF”.
We are happy that we were able to support Yuriy Hrytsak’s veteran business at the right time. The Ukrainian Veterans Foundation creates opportunities for veterans and their families.
Photos and text by Olesya Matsyutevich.
