Young Arooj is set to shake things up for Cavan retailers!

Give a 17-year-old all the encouragement and financial backing you can offer and what would you expect the upshot to be? Cavan GP, Dr. Ali Imtiaz, was delighted when his teenage daughter, Arooj, chose to take up his offer of support and open Cavan’s first milkshake shop aimed at children and teenagers. Arooj’s dream has now come to fruition in the form of ‘The Shake Shop’ on Ashe Street. This investment in her future now has her mind firmly focused on a career in business. Arooj Imtiaz is too young to be a director of a company. But for the Cavan schoolgirl, it’s on the cards for when she turns 18. With the backing - both financial and emotional - of her parents, Dr. Ali and Shehnaz, The Shake Shop opened on Ashe Street about a month ago. Selling everything from milkshakes and smoothies to coffees and confectionery, it’s aimed as a hang-out for children and teenagers: younger kids being treated to a couple of hours out with, say, a parent, grandparent or guardian, and older teens meeting up after school for a shake and a chat. As well as the funky cafe, there’s a function room used for either kids parties or live music that would appeal to teens, there’s occasional fancy dress events, face-painting and a special Smiley Shake for younger patrons. Arooj grew up in Cavan town but they’ve moved now to Butlersbridge and she’s studying for her Leaving Cert in The Institute Of Education in Dublin. “I was in a milkshake bar near Trinity College in Dublin and just thought ‘Cavan has nothing like this’. That gave me the idea and when I told my Dad his reaction was brilliant. He’s believed in me from the first day.” Inspired Arooj says she knew exactly what she wanted from the start, designing the décor, building the branding and having lots of input into the concept, which was inspired by other places, cultures and even different times. “It’s a bit like the 1950s diners where people met in cafés and listened to their favourite bands and enjoyed the whole experience. I wanted to create a place for young people to meet, have a shake and enjoy the chat - generally a safe environment for young people to hang out... I used to see teenagers hanging around outside the library in Cavan. Well this is near the library so now they come here.” Arooj and her Dad enlisted the experience of Patricia Connolly, a Castleblayney woman with her own interior design business. Patricia is director and operations manager at The Shake Shop but she gives her younger colleague all the credit for the concept and how the business is developing. “For a kid of 17, Arooj is amazing. She exudes enthusiasm, is totally involved with the business and open to learning more. She’s a creative entrepreneur with the courage to take an idea and push it forward. She has no fear,” says Patricia, also high in praise for Arooj’s family support. “She has great backing from her parents. Dr. Ali’s encouragement of his children is commendable.” “I make the decisions but our team is very cooperative, honest and loyal,” adds Arooj, who has no problem taking the reins. “Dad encourages me a lot and it really helps for him to have so much confidence in me,” she says. She’s confident that she’ll do her parents, sister Maryam (16) and brother Umar (seven) proud. Longterm, she has plans to open a chain of shake shops and has “lots of other business ideas too”. “The sky’s the limit,” she says. Previously planning to study dentistry when she finishes school, Arooj now has her heart set on business. She believes her parents’ investment in her career will be the making of her. “I know if I do things right it will work out. I think it will be a great investment - for both me and my Dad.” • The Shake Shop is open seven days a week, 11am-7pm with live music gigs for teenagers weekly and bookings taken for children’s parties.