In Lynchburg, the Razumov family, who fled Ukraine during the Russian war, were able to rebuild their lives in the United States and start their own business. Now they plan to open a community space in Virginia to support their local community.
This was reported by local TV station WSET and the Razumov family on social media..
“Everyone has to decide what is more important to you: your land or your family,” Artem Razumov says in his story about his decision to leave Ukraine.
During the war, the family of Artem and Nadiya Razumov reportedly faced a tough choice: either join the Russian army or end up in prison. Instead, he, his wife Nadiya, and their two daughters left Ukraine, first for Poland and then for the United States.
Before the war, the couple worked as engineers in the mining industry, but they were unable to continue their careers in the United States. They found a way out in their own business - the family bakery Sweet&OK.
According to Artem Razumov, at first the family sold only two types of products, but now the assortment already includes more than ten items. They are now celebrating their first season of sales at the Lynchburg Community Market.
“We can’t make a living in engineering, so we’re looking for something we can do. My wife helped out in a bakery when she was younger, and she has a lot of baking skills. I said, ‘Why not?’” – said Artem Razumov.
Despite the difficult path, the Razumovs do not plan to return to Ukraine, but instead strive to build a life in the United States and share Ukrainian culture.
However, the family does not plan to stop there and as the next step they want to launch another project – the Time & Space anti-cafe in Augusta County. And now they have opened a fundraiser for its implementation, because they used the last money to move to America. “When we came here, we had two suitcases,” said Artem Razumov.
The idea for the anti-cafe arose from a simple observation, and the project itself involves creating a safe, warm space for communication, work and relaxation, especially in the evening, when, as it turned out, there are no such locations here. is missing.
For the family, it became a symbolic starting point after almost three years of rethinking life, emigration, and working on a new future for their family.
“Emigration is not the end. It is a chance to start over – but already consciously,” Razumov emphasized.
According to the family, the new space should be built not on selling coffee, but on connecting people, relaxation, inspiration, and the opportunity to stop in the midst of the daily rush.
Photo: WSET, Time & Space Staunton public
Author: Inna Mikhno