Having a bakery in Prague is a dream come true, says Icelander Gudbjartsson
I meet David Arnórsson at their new branch in Myslíkova Street, which is due to open in a few days. I wonder why he decided to leave his successful business in Iceland and start from scratch in Prague.
“I’ve been a baker since I was thirteen. It’s the only profession I’ve ever done in my life, and I’m 40 now. So I’m quite experienced. I started a company in Iceland, but in my heart I always wanted to go abroad, to some “And if you have a dream, it will bother you until you fulfill it.”
Davíd Arnórsson and his friend Gudbajrtur came up with the idea to start a business in Prague.
“Of course we had to choose a city that we would like and where to live. When I came to visit, I immediately decided to start something here. I immediately fell in love with the city.”
But why from all places Prague?
“When I traveled, I was always open to this idea. It was something special, it’s hard to explain. It was just a feeling. And if you let your heart control a little, amazing things can happen. My business partner and I wanted to start something together “We took one year to prepare and then we opened a store.”
What was your first impression of the locals?
“To be honest, it took me a little longer than I knew, but when you get really closer, you find that they are the best. Now I have a lot of Czech friends and all my regular customers are also my friends, so I’m happy.”
“I want to sell quality”
Arctic Bakehouse has been operating for two years. The company is doing well. What are among the most sought after customers?
“We have traditional island pastries, but they are influenced by many countries. We bake Arctic bakery more or less according to my recipes. I think croissants and bread, which I called Arctic Monk, are most popular among Czechs.”
Those breads are not the cheapest. Are Czech customers willing to pay more for quality?
“Yes, when you look at how many customers we have. We’ve been busy here since we opened. People all over the world today are willing to pay for high quality. They think about their health and what they consume. I came here. to contribute something good, and I think I’m doing well. “
As a baker, what do you think about traditional Czech pastries and Czech cuisine in general?
“If it’s done to high standards, I like it. Maybe in our bakery we will sometimes offer some traditional Czech things. But it’s a different tradition and you have to get through it first, understand it.”
And what is your favorite Czech food?
“That’s a difficult question. I think everything includes meat. When it comes to Czech cuisine, I usually go for pork.” As you said, Czechs tend to be a little reserved and less open. Do you see any similarities between the Czechs and the Icelanders? “I would say no. There are, of course, Czechs who remind me of my island friends, but when you come from a country like Iceland, where everyone is open, and suddenly find yourself in a different culture, it will take you some time to figure it out. But I still enjoy meeting the Czechs, even though I still have some difficulties because of my knowledge of the Czech language, I promised myself that I would speak better, but I was too busy to learn. knowledge will improve, I can still make clear connections. “
Prague is already my home
Do you still feel like a visitor here or do you consider the Czechia to be your second home?
“This is my home now, that’s how I feel when I travel here and there from Iceland. I decided to live here from day one. Of course, people initially considered me a foreigner and a tourist, but the only feeling I have now is that I’m one of you It’s a wonderful feeling and it’s much easier for me to be here So I don’t feel like a foreigner at all “What about bureaucracy, was it hard to start a business in the Czech Republic?” because of the language barrier. But we always They also said, “What did we think when we came to Prague from Iceland? That’s crazy. But we both believed it would work. So we had some trouble, but it was because we were doing it for the first time.” “We already know where to go and we have people who are helping us now. So we are learning how the Czechs do it, and it is not so difficult anymore.”
What things do you miss most from home?
“Definitely the sea. I can’t see that from here, while you can see it everywhere in Iceland.”
And what are you looking forward to when you return from Iceland to Prague?
“For friends, company, work. Because it’s not just work, it’s a passion, it’s my hobby, it’s everything.”