THE OWNERS of a much-loved Ukrainian café are celebrating one year of being based right in the heart of Wrexham.
Zerno was set up in the city centre last September by Ukrainian couple Yaroslav and Oksana Izviekov.
They brought their dream of opening a small business to Wrexham after the war destroyed all plans of opening a cafe in their hometown of Chortkiv, Ukraine.
After searching across Wales for the perfect location to build a new home and business, they say that 'nowhere felt like home' more than Wrexham did.
This week, the Leader caught up with the couple to mark their one year anniversary of working in the city.
They said: "It’s hard to believe a whole year has already passed since we opened our café! Looking back at the photos from those last days before opening, I can see how much effort we put in – finishing up little details, finalising the menu, testing dishes.
"We kept imagining what that very first day would be like… Who would be our first customer? Would people come? Would they enjoy what we had created? But the moment we opened, all our worries just disappeared.
"Looking back on our journey from the very first idea to making it a reality, we truly believe that God was guiding us every step of the way. Somehow, things always worked out — maybe not on the very first try, but always in the right time.
"Being right in the heart of Wrexham, we already feel like we’ve become a small part of its story. Every day we witness the life of the city — hearing the latest news from our customers, seeing how the town is growing, changing, and becoming even more beautiful. Most of all, Wrexham has given us a sense of belonging.
"People welcomed us with such kindness and openness that we don’t just feel like newcomers anymore — we feel at home. And we hope our café gives something back too: a place where people can gather, connect, and feel the warmth of both Ukrainian and Welsh hospitality.
"The highlight was definitely Ryan Reynolds visiting our café, followed by being featured in the Welcome to Wrexham series. Suddenly, we became a little bit famous, and people from all over the world reached out with messages of support – and many even travelled just to visit Zerno Café."
Yaroslav and Oksana added that the most popular drinks on the menu to date have been the classic latte, followed closely by the flat white.
As for cakes, our honey cake has become the absolute star of the show, with everyone who has tried it 'always coming back for more'.
The couple added: "The most intriguing dish has been our Ukrainian pancakes, filled with what might seem like an unusual combination for British tastes – sweet curd cheese with raisins and a touch of cinnamon, generously topped with honey and fresh fruit. It’s truly delicious.
"We’re also really hoping that very soon we’ll be able to add traditional Ukrainian dumplings – varenyky – to our menu. Fingers crossed, we can make it happen."
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Despite the troubles in Ukraine, Yaroslav and Oksana managed to return to their home country to spend some time there over the summer.
They said: "We felt so happy to have this opportunity. At home we could truly rest our souls, reconnect with our family, and spend time in the beautiful Carpathian mountains.
"Being back there almost felt like a dream. Home will always be home — the place where it’s warm. We love Ukraine. We believe in the day the war will end. The people of Ukraine deserve nothing less than a normal, peaceful life."
They added: "When the war began and we came to the UK, we had no plans and no dreams. We were simply living in the hope that the war would end soon and that we could return home. We were grateful just to be safe, that our children could go to school, and that we could work and earn a living.
"But at one point we decided to take the leap and make our dream a reality — without thinking about how long we might stay in Britain. Time was passing, and so was our life. It’s the same now — we don’t know what the future will bring.
"What we do know is that we are here, living in this moment. Our children are learning and enjoying their childhood, we are doing the work we love, bringing ideas to life, and building a Ukrainian community.
"The name of our café, Zerno, which means “grain” in Ukrainian, reflects that idea. A grain of wheat is planted in the soil, it grows into an ear, it becomes flour, and it gives life. Our Zerno has been planted, and now we are the ones tending to it, watering it, and helping it grow.
"We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us throughout this first year — our family, our friends, our wonderful customers, and the Wrexham community. Without you, Zerno would not be what it is today. Thank you for sharing this journey with us — we look forward to many more moments together."
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