Business: MOTW Coffee
Address: 4931 Route 59, Naperville
Phone/website: 630-219-3055; motw.coffee
Owners: Baquir Jakvani, 40, and wife Huda Silat, 38, of Naperville
Years in business: Opened October 2024.
What does your business do? “Nationwide there’s a huge coffee and chai craze. Chai is tea. We wanted a business. This is a cool concept. We’ve always loved coffee, chai and hosting, so why not bring that together?” Jakvani said.
“The brand is cool. … MOTW is an alternative to other coffee shops. It’s nice to have something different. A place you can sit down and be comfortable. People work remotely, have a place to study, meet up with friends. … That’s what the shop is all about.”
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What is MOTW? “It stands for Muslims of the World.”
How did you learn about MOTW? “My wife was learning about different franchises, things like that. She said, ‘Hey, this is really cool. They engage the community.’ We visited a franchise in Carmel, Indiana, talked with the owners.”
Have you run a coffee shop before? “First time.”
What else do you do for work? “I’m an OBGYN. I practice at St. (Joseph Medical Center) in Joliet. … I’ve been doing that for a while. I was in the city for a few years. We moved to Naperville in 2021 and I started with St. Joe’s. … Medicine was a passion for me since I was really young.”
So, you deliver babies and coffee? “That’s right. Babies by day, coffee by night. My wife is the main operator. She’s here all the time. I’m more the backup. … My wife is here in the mornings, does the hiring, the training.”
What are your hours? “We are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.”
Is there a big demand for coffee late at night? “Actually, we sell more chai late. We’ve had people come in in the evening because a lot of coffee shops close earlier. It’s nice to have something like this, coffee in the evening. … With finals, this place gets pretty busy with students studying.”
Where are your coffee beans from? “South America and roasted here locally. The chai we sell is Yemeni.”
What makes the chai special? “The way it’s cooked. People love it.”
Which is the bigger seller? “It’s about even. More coffee in the daytime.”
What do you like about this job? “I like getting to meet new people, engaging with the community. I love that. My wife is in the back working and I’m out talking to people.”
Any negatives? “Days are long but enjoyable.”
What’s on the menu? “Our menu, we have such a large selection of drinks. Everyone can find something they like, which is cool. We have Turkish cakes, milk cakes, we have chocolates, we have the traditional muffins, baklava. Then we also have empanadas. … We have a lot of options.”
Is this a good location? “Yes. Being on a major intersection of Route 59 and 111th Street is great. Not only do we have commuters, but we have residential neighborhoods east and west of us.”
What about competition? “You’re always going to have competition. But as long as you provide great customer service, a nice experience, friendly baristas, then you’ll create a great atmosphere for customers to come back to. We pride ourselves on customer service, cleanliness and the quality of the drinks, the food.”
Has it worked out? “One day, I walked in, saw a big group. It was a Bible study group. I wanted to create a space for anyone to come into and we’ve accomplished that. … We get a lot of regulars. Tells you you’re doing something right.”
How many employees do you have? “Eight.”
What does a barista say? ”I have always loved coffee. I like working with my hands. I enjoy making the drinks and learning how businesses operate,” said Alice Kim, 18, of Naperville, who will be a freshman at UCLA this fall.
What does a customer say? “My first time here. I got a decaf Americano. It’s nice and fresh. Good flavor. I’ll come back,“ Susan Restad, 64, of Plainfield, said.
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Do your homework and if you truly believe in your product, be persistent. … With any business, you’re taking a risk. That anxiety is always there. You go in with the best of intentions. Only time will tell. … I feel we’ve done really well. We still have people coming in for the first time so that’s kind of cool.”
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at [email protected].