Do you remember a place from your childhood that you would want to return to?  

One pharmacist has gone a bit further than just revisiting that memory, as he has opened an Italian coffee shop in the premises where his family used to run a pet shop. 

Morteza Balaie says “he’ll never forget this strong smell of pet food” after he officially opened Pinocchio’s House coffee shop in Edenbridge, Kent on May 2. 

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His parents sold the pet shop nearly a decade ago, but Balaie bought the premises back 18 months ago and finished renovations last month to re-open and continue his family’s legacy in the town. 

“I used to study in the back room of the shop,” Balaie tells C+D. “In between serving customers, my parents would come back and check in to see how I’m getting on.” 

It was a part of a commute he did with his parents from South London where he grew up as he studied there in his teens before completing his MPharm up in Liverpool. 

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He even remembers a funny story how the local pub owners’ dog would come in alone to pick a treat for himself. 

“He’d come show it to my parents at the till and they’d give him a nod,” he says. “He’d go back to the pub and show his owner and then the owner would come later to settle the tab.” 

Becoming an entrepreneur 

The full circle moment returning to Edenbridge to run a business was sparked by Balaie’s realisation to “chase my dreams” after witnessing his mother come down with a serious illness. 

“I’m chasing my dreams because I used to lack confidence and not believe in myself,” he says. 

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After completing his pre-reg with Day Lewis, Balaie became a critical care specialist pharmacist at King’s College Hospital and still locums in hospitals. 

But his desire to follow his dreams haven’t been restricted to sharing his love for coffee, as he has two other businesses benefiting from his pharmacist skills. 

“During covid I noticed I was losing hair quite significantly and that’s when I created my own formulation for a hair product.” 

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He developed a hydrogel to help stimulate hair growth, now selling under his company OptiOptu. 

It was around the same time he also launched Barberry Boutique where he runs clinics that use his pharmacist skills to deliver aesthetic treatments. 

Smooth, chocolatey and sweet 

But he’s also found his pharmacist skills in managing medicines shortages have come in handy running the coffee shop and dealing with suppliers. 

“The coffee is in customs as we speak! We’re dealing with Italians who don’t speak much English. My friend Fabio translates for me. With the EU it’s challenging in terms of delays and costs.” 

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His chose his perfect beans after a trip to Italy where his wife Farah has family. 

“I’d gone just outside of Naples, and Fabio has a friend who owns a roastery there. We tried his coffee and we absolutely fell in love with it! We knew that was the best coffee we could ever get out hands on.” 

It’s now refined his tastes after admitting he was “clueless” about the difference in coffee and he “didn’t care how it came”. 

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“I warn the customers it is incredible, but it comes at a cost that your taste buds will adjust accordingly. 

“It’s coffee without that aftertaste. It’s smooth, chocolatey and very slightly sweet, with a dark chocolate taste to it.” 

Balaie feels like he has found his calling with his businesses coming together.  

“It’s nice to connect the dots to see what your purpose is in life. I feel like I’ve found mine.”