Business ownership isn’t for the faint of heart, and choosing to open a business in Stratford, a small town with over 53,000 people, especially a restaurant, can bring additional challenges.
Last winter, a new restaurant opened in the South End called Pikly’s Restaurant: Caribbean Fusion. On January 10th, 2025, a family-owned business set out to bring the flavors of their home country to Stratford. Yvlaine Alexis opened her restaurant, with an emphasis on the foods of Haiti, four years after opening the Alexis family’s first business, a wine and beer shop, in 2021.
What does Piklys mean? The name, inspired by the Haitian dish called pikliz, is made up of cabbage (fermented or not), with a spicy kick (thanks to Scotch Bonnet peppers), and a host of other veggies like carrots, onions, and more.
In a wonderful conversation with the owner, I spoke with Yvlaine about her business. She said, “I’m proud that we can give people hope and pride through this business, showing them that anything is achievable, despite where you originated from. And I encourage other people, regardless of who you are, to follow your dreams and take risks, because if we could, you can too.” There are several resources for those looking to open their own businesses. Some can be found on the Stratford Library Association’s website , and additional information can be found on the Town’s Economic and Development Department website.
For me and my family, food soothes our souls. When we get to taste the food from our home cultures, it warms our hearts, nourishes our bodies, and brings us back to happy memories. My wife’s native country is Sri Lanka (a tiny island just below India), and the roots of my culture are my Southern-born grandparents.
Here in Stratford, the top three languages spoken are: English, Spanish, and Creole, which is one of the national languages of Haiti. Recognized by the United States as an independent country in 1862, the U.S. invaded Haiti in 1915 in hopes of gaining some semblance of control over it. Over fifteen years later, in 1934, the United States withdrew military forces, and thus Haiti reclaimed their independence.
Piklys is about bringing the Alexis family’s Haitian roots to the community they emigrated to over 25 years ago. “We came to the United States in 2001. My husband and I have raised 5 kids between us. Piklys is our first restaurant.” Yvlaine says that what she loves most about her restaurant is that she gets to share “our Haitian culture with our local community.” And as a business owner, with two businesses, she said the hardest part of business ownership is “taxes.”
We can all empathize with that! Peruse their menu and treat your palate. Order take-out, or dine-in and spend some time with the owners of Piklys. You can eat locally, and at the same time take a little trip to Haiti, right here in Stratford.
