Praneetha Navathe and Anvesh Goud trade tech careers for a sweeter path.
A new dessert café in Sarnia is giving residents something they did not know they were missing. Cherry’s Dessert Café, located at 1362 Lambton Mall Road, is led by husband-and-wife team Anvesh Goud and Praneetha Navathe, who decided to take a chance on a small but growing franchise after more than a decade living in Sarnia.
Goud says the idea began with a simple problem. Late-night dessert cravings kept sending the couple on the highway to London, where the nearest Cherry’s location was. It was not long before they noticed they were not the only ones making the drive.
“We saw that there were a lot of ice cream shops in town, but nothing like this. The dessert cravings really happen after dinner time,” he said. “After dinner my wife would say she needed dessert. Sure we had ice cream at McDonald's, but she wanted something more.” Each trip to London convinced them there was a gap in the local food scene, reinforced by friends and other community members who also travelled out of town for similar treats. “Now that we are here, there is this big group of people who are so happy they do not have to drive to London any more.”
The pair have been together for more than ten years and married for one. They do not have children yet, although Goud says it is something they look forward to when life calms down. For now, the business keeps them busy, especially with Cherry’s growing popularity among families. “Kids already love to come here,” he said with a laugh.
Before opening the café, both Navathe and Goud worked in IT. She worked for Tangerine and he worked for Scotiabank, and both were feeling the weight of an industry shifting under rapid advances in artificial intelligence. Goud says the uncertainty made the couple rethink their long-term plans.
“We quit our jobs in IT to do this. We wanted something more stable, like a physical store we could rely on and come to every day,” he said. The move gave them an opportunity to pursue a business idea they had been discussing for years. “We have been passionate about getting into business for so long.”
Although Cherry’s is a franchise, Goud describes it as a small, close-knit operation. With only four locations across Ontario so far, the franchisors meet one-on-one with new owners and remain directly involved. “They have helped guide us through every step. Everyone is very hands on and involved,” he said. “Because we are growing with them in the early stages, everything we do is supported whenever we need it.”
The Sarnia location soft launched in September, and recently marked its grand opening on December 6th with a steady stream of visitors. The couple operates the café with four employees, bringing the team to six in total. Navathe took creative control over the interior design of the space, including design touches and a selfie wall that has drawn attention online. The café offers a full dessert menu, from mini pancakes and waffles to crepes, milkshakes, mojitos, coffee and a popular strawberry cup that Goud says converts even those who claim not to like fruit. All of the desserts are prepared in house, and most are prepped on the spot right in front of customers.
Goud says opening a Cherry’s has been a major shift, but one that feels right for the couple. “This is our first business together as husband and wife,” he said. “It has been a lot of work, but it has also been really good.”
Cherry’s will remain open through the winter with the same extended hours, something Goud feels is important for a community that often sees ice cream shops close for the season. For Navathe and Goud, the hope is that Cherry’s becomes a comfortable place for residents to gather, linger, and enjoy the kind of dessert experience they used to drive out of town to find.
