When Suraj Sooroojballie opened Déjà Brew Café in Queens in Sept. 2024, it wasn’t just about coffee; it was about culture.
The Guyanese-born, U.S.-based entrepreneur, who also owns a sister café in Georgetown, Guyana, and runs a tax consulting firm in Jamaica, Queens, envisioned a space where “the working class” could enjoy high-quality coffee, fusion meals, and a welcoming atmosphere reminiscent of Manhattan, all without leaving the borough.
“I wanted to bring Manhattan to Queens,” Sooroojballie said in an interview with Caribbean Life. “People shouldn’t have to go far for great food and coffee in an upscale but comfortable space.”
Déjà Brew first launched in Guyana in January 2024, born out of his frustration with finding quality coffee in his home country. Drawing on his love for and expertise in quality coffee, combined with a background in accounting and business consulting, he created a space that quickly became a local favorite. Within a year, several competitors opened nearby, but Déjà Brew held its ground, proof, he said, that “consistency and quality always win.”
The Queens location, co-founded with his business partner Heather, expands on that foundation. The café blends Caribbean, American, and Latin flavors, offering dishes such as Rasta Pasta, empanadas, and chickpea curry salads, alongside specialty coffees and teas made entirely from scratch.
“Our goal was to create a Caribbean fusion menu that’s familiar but elevated,” he said. “Every tea and coffee is made from authentic ingredients, no commercial shortcuts.”
Beyond food and drink, Déjà Brew has become a community hub. The café regularly hosts family-friendly events and small business gatherings designed to help people “decompress,” a word Sooroojballie often uses.
He said the café’s philosophy centers not just on service, but on hospitality.
“Customer service is taking an order,” he explained. “Hospitality is creating an experience that makes people want to come back. That’s what we focus on.”
While his background is in finance, he credits his success to intuition, patience, and a strong support system, especially Heather, his assistant Jess, his daughter Christine, and his excellent kitchen staff.
“Without Jess and Heather, Déjà Brew New York wouldn’t exist,” he said. “And my daughter is my motivation. Everything I do, I do to inspire her.”
Now, the successful businessman is looking ahead. He plans to expand Déjà Brew internationally, with locations in Suriname and the Caribbean, including a five-star restaurant in Kitty, Guyana, set to open next year.
Still, his mission remains simple: serving good coffee, good food, and fostering genuine connections.
“I could make more money,” he said, “but I’d rather see someone smile when they walk into my café. That’s success to me.”
