An Inspired Refuge

How Süti & Co. invites comfort and connection in its café and beyond

By Lisa Van Horne

Photos by Front Range Media @frontrange.media,  Lauren DeFilippo Jackson @regretscoyote and Katie Todd @katietoddphotography

Nestled on Boulder’s 16th Street between Spruce and Pearl, the Süti & Co. cottage represents a cozy sanctuary where customers can indulge in a scrumptious shortbread and bask in a welcoming environment of tranquil, home-like calm. But the story of how this place came to be, the special meaning that it holds for its clients and Andrea Uzarowski’s aspirations for the business, is a robust, heartful tale.

“This company is my baby,” says Uzarowski, owner of Süti & Co. “The fact that this baby of mine has been not only embraced, but loved and protected by this community in such a short amount of time makes me incredibly grateful.”

Uzarowski’s path toward founding Süti & Co. began in her childhood, baking at home in her native Denmark with her mother and grandmother. 

“I used to talk with my kids about, if I were to have a business of my own, what it would be,” says Uzarowski. “The conversation would always come back to these traditional family desserts.”

But it wasn’t always a straightforward journey. After earning her master’s degree in finance, Uzarowski dove into a high-octane investment banking role in New York City. The rush and adrenaline spoke to her. But she felt a lingering frustration—a product of the adversity that Uzarowski notes she faced in the business—that she needed a creative outlet to address.

“To deal with the stress at the end of the day, I would come home and sketch out how I wanted to plate the dinner that I was cooking that evening,” says Uzarowski. “Every time I called my mom, it was to talk about food, not what was happening in my job. She told me I should take that passion for food and pivot, encouraging me that it wasn’t too late.”

Uzarowski left the world of investment banking to attend the Culinary Institute of America. The years that followed saw Uzarowski working diligently in various kitchens, from smaller scratch restaurants to Michelin-starred establishments. As she grew her family, she transitioned to working as a culinary instructor and catering chef—a diverse set of experiences that uniquely positioned her for the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic would cause in the industry.

Uzarowski began her own boutique catering company at the start of the pandemic, working closely with clients in their homes to plan and host tastings, weddings and other events. As pandemic-related restrictions began to ease, Uzarowski started looking for a physical space to run her business out of, leading her to the 16th Street cottage—a place that immediately felt like her work’s home. 

Süti & Co. opened in September 2022 offering a selection of shortbreads—inspired by those that Uzarowski baked with her mother and grandmother growing up—along with simple European-style coffee beverages. But from the business’s inception, Uzarowski also wanted to focus on creating a space with a cozy, comfortable vibe that invited customers into a refuge from their everyday lives.

“I was personally craving the slowness that was forced on us by the pandemic,” says Uzarowski. “I thought, what if this space can offer that atmosphere for people once the craziness of pre-COVID life came back in full force?”

It’s an environment inspired by the Scandinavian lifestyle that Uzarowski grew up with, one in which simple pleasures, a sense of calm and an emphasis on human stories are valued. This is reflected in the café’s décor itself—the lighting, furniture and diverse textures and materials. But it’s also omnipresent in the merchandise that Uzarowski painstakingly curates.

“I love beautifully made things,” says Uzarowski. “I love things that can be passed down from generation to generation and the feeling of being surrounded by items that you’re happy to be immersed in.” 

Uzarowski began the merchandise portion of her business by connecting with artisans—some of whom are based in Denmark down the street from her childhood home—to build a foundation of hand-selected items for her customers to purchase in the café. Uzarowski notes that she puts immense care and consideration into every item that she offers, working hard to understand the stories of the glassmakers, woodworkers and many other artisans so that she can share them with her customers. This area of the business continues to organically grow—with items now available via the Süti & Co. online store—inviting customers to bring elements of the café’s inimitable atmosphere into their own lives. 

“We’re trying to create a space where you can take inspiration home with you to replicate this lifestyle where you’re allowing yourself to slow down, whether it’s adding a certain texture to your home, learning to appreciate sweets that aren’t overly sweet, recalling the story of a certain candle, pillow or the artist or maker who created it, and just appreciating the simple things in life,”
says Uzarowski.

All these ideas culminate in Uzarowski’s supper clubs—gatherings in which delicious food is served up alongside the stories of personal journeys, triumphs and courage woven throughout. These events often leave Uzarowski with what she calls her “goosebump moments”—instances in which she sees the values of simple enjoyment, a warm welcome and personal connection playing out in the lives of her customers.

Moving forward, Uzarowski looks to continue to expand both the in-person offerings of the café as well as the promotion of its signature lifestyle in the community with a growing merchandise business, online holiday gift guide and recurring publication. These are all aspirations that Uzarowski approaches with a grateful heart.

“I feel beloved, protected and cared for by our customers in the same way that we work to protect and care for them,” says Uzarowski. “It’s what gets me up every morning.”