From Hospital Halls to Grocery Aisles

Javid Javdani didn’t plan on operating a restaurant. Or a grocery retailer. Or managing employees, stock, and group demand. For many of his early profession, he was targeted on pharmacy—dosing accuracy, remedy security, and main a hospital staff. However like many individuals who construct one thing lasting, his second act began with a easy resolution: he noticed an area enterprise on the market, and he stated sure.

“I didn’t overthink it,” he says. “I knew the realm. I knew what folks have been lacking.”

That one selection led to a thriving grocery enterprise, a well-loved restaurant, and a profession shift that also surprises him. However for Javid Javdani, the main points all join.

What Does a Pharmacist Know About Enterprise?

Quite a bit, really.

Javid earned his Physician of Pharmacy from the College of the Pacific–Stockton, after finding out chemistry at Cal Poly Pomona. He grew to become a licensed pharmacist in 1994. For 20 years, he labored in high-pressure healthcare settings—most notably as Director of Pharmacy at Kindred Hospital from 1997 to 2017.

That function got here with critical accountability: coordinating with medical doctors, managing drugs, operating audits, and main a pharmacy staff. Each mistake might put somebody’s life in danger. So he realized to run tight methods.

“You don’t guess. You don’t wing it,” he says. “You test each step. You then test once more.”

It seems, that’s additionally a good way to run a enterprise.

How a Grocery Retailer Turned a Cultural Hub

In 2005, Javid purchased a small nook grocery store in his San Diego neighbourhood. He didn’t simply preserve it going—he expanded it, doubled the ground area, and crammed the cabinets with objects nobody else carried.

He added spices, teas, snacks, and staples from throughout the Center East, South Asia, and Japanese Europe. Individuals got here from throughout city to seek out meals they hadn’t seen since they have been children.

“One girl began crying when she discovered her favorite pickled eggplant,” he says. “That’s after I realised—this isn’t only a store. It’s a connection to house.”

The shop grew to become greater than a retail area. It grew to become a gathering place. Individuals lingered, chatted, and shared recipes. It additionally created jobs and supported native suppliers.

Opening a Restaurant with Objective

By 2011, Javid took one other leap. He opened Sufi Mediterranean Delicacies, a restaurant providing Persian and Mediterranean dishes with a home-cooked really feel. It was a pure subsequent step. He already knew what his group needed. Now, he might give them a spot to take a seat down and revel in it.

He began small, however with intention. He targeted on flavour, consistency, and care—similar to he did in pharmacy.

“In each locations, folks belief you,” he says. “You don’t reduce corners.”

At present, Sufi is a neighbourhood staple. It additionally presents catering for native occasions, weddings, and household gatherings. Javid nonetheless checks in usually. He nonetheless remembers regulars by title.

Maintaining a Foot in Healthcare

Even after constructing two profitable companies, Javid didn’t stroll away from pharmacy fully. From 2020 to 2023, he labored part-time as a employees pharmacist at Med-Plus Pharmacy.

Why preserve doing each?

“It retains my mind sharp,” he says. “And it jogs my memory how necessary particulars are.”

That stability—between service and methods, between group and management—defines how Javid runs all the things.

What Different Entrepreneurs Can Be taught

Javid by no means had a proper marketing strategy. He didn’t begin with a giant mortgage or investor backing. He realized as he went. However just a few issues made the distinction:

Know your group

He stocked what folks really needed—not what he assumed they wanted.

Don’t look forward to excellent

“I didn’t know all the things,” he says. “I simply received began and figured issues out one after the other.”

Methods matter

From stock logs to hiring, he runs issues like a pharmacist—fastidiously and persistently.

Small might be robust

Javid didn’t construct an empire. He constructed two regular, dependable companies that create worth day-after-day.

Ultimate Ideas: It’s Not Simply Enterprise, It’s Private

Javid’s story is about greater than profession change. It’s about care. Whether or not managing important medication or steaming plates of saffron rice, he exhibits the identical mindset: listen, do it proper, and take pleasure in serving folks.

“I didn’t got down to turn out to be a enterprise proprietor,” he says. “However I noticed a necessity. And I stayed with it.”

In a time when many companies really feel distant or rushed, Javid’s path is a reminder that being current, listening effectively, and exhibiting up day-after-day continues to be one of many strongest enterprise fashions round.