On the edge of the Nieuwmarkt we find a special place: Little Paradise Sandwich Shop. Here it is not only about healthy food, but especially about connection. Owners Olgun and his wife Busra make sure that everyone who enters feels welcome. And that does not go unnoticed. For the elderly who live above, the shop has now become a regular meeting place.

A place with a mission

Little Paradise Sandwich Shop has only been open for a few months, but it already feels like a fixture in the neighborhood. “We’re new here, but the neighbors came to see us right away,” Olgun says. “Now we have a lot of regular customers.”

The interior, largely designed by his wife, exudes warmth. “We wanted to create a place where people feel good. We only sell healthy products. We even make our toasted sandwiches with sourdough bread.”

A second home for the residents of above

What makes the store extra special is the bond with the elderly people who live above it. “Our upstairs neighbors are 55-plus who live in a residential group,” Olgun explains. “They don’t just come here to buy something, but also to chat. They say they feel happy that we are here.”

His wife Busra is the one who does most of the talking. “She talks to them a lot, and they really appreciate that. A few minutes ago, there were three residents who came to have a chat.”

According to Olgun, contact with the elderly is just as important as selling products. “After you turn 60 or 65, you just need a good conversation. This is a nice place for them to be among people. And it gives us energy that they come to us for this.”

Whether you are a local or just passing by, one thing is for sure: Little Paradise Sandwich Shop is more than a store. It is a little paradise where people come together.