Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Shop offers a ‘taste of Kyiv’
A COUPLE have opened a grocery shop in a former bridal store in Dundee – as they look to offer fellow Ukrainians a “piece of home”.
Husband and wife Valerii Parchynskyi and Anastasiia Parchynska have transformed the former Bliss Bridal shop at the bottom of Hilltown.
The couple fled their country due to the war with Russia and moved to live with a sponsor family in Edinburgh, before coming to Dundee.
They opened the store, called Kyivsmak, 10 days after their son was born.
Anastasiia, 35, says that, on top of the shop, they have ambitions to open a cafe.
The mother of two said: “Our family moved to Dundee in September 2023. Before this, we lived for almost one year in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh.
“Before that, we lived in Kyiv, Ukraine. That is why we called our shop Kyivsmak.
“We are very grateful for the help we’ve received so far to make this happen and we’re delighted to open the shop.
“Dundee is a very nice city to live in, with many museums and parks. But the main thing is that there is a very strong Ukrainian community here.
“The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain helps and supports Ukrainians in everything. The community organises many activities for adults and children and unites us.”
Anastasia said the new business represents a big change for the couple.
“Back in Kyiv, I worked in telecoms and Valerii worked in banking.
“It’s a massive change for us. “The city has many Polish and Bulgarian stores, but no Ukrainian ones.
“We, and many others, miss home and our products, and that was one of the main reasons for opening the shop – to give people a piece of home.
“There are also plans to open a cafe to give people an opportunity to enjoy Ukrainian food.”
Valerii, 35, says the couple still have relatives living in Ukraine.
He said: “We speak with our family every day about how we are getting on, but they’re delighted with us being able to open a business here.
“We are so thankful that we’ve been able to come to Scotland.
“Dundee feels like home for my family now.”
The pair have been sharing details of the shop’s progress via Instagram.