Family opens countryside café in Valgunde parish, becomes local gathering spot
A year ago, Inese and Aldis Rugens opened the café “Vītoliņu virtuve” in Vītoliņi, Valgunde parish, after years running local shops. The venue now serves daily lunches as well as celebrations and evenings with live music.
In Vītoliņi, in Valgunde parish near Jelgava, Inese and Aldis Rugens opened their café “Vītoliņu virtuve” a year ago. It has since become a place for everyday lunches as well as celebrations and musical evenings.
The road to the café
The couple, who live in Kaugurciems, are no strangers to business. More than a decade ago they made their first attempt, opening a grocery store in Jūrmala, but it did not work out due to a lack of prospects and local customers. Even then, Inese had already chosen a company name — SIA “Bolboreta,” meaning “butterfly” in Galician.
Later, an opportunity arose to rent shop premises in Vītoliņi. Despite the distance from home, the couple decided to try again, and this time it worked — after a few years they bought the rented premises outright, along with an adjoining part of the building that had stood empty for years. The building was in poor condition, with a collapsed roof in places, but they carried out extensive renovations both inside and out.
From shop to café
Alongside their first shop, the Rugens family later bought a second store, “Ziedari,” in the center of Valgunde parish. Encouraged by strong local support, they began considering how to use the empty part of the building. An initial idea for a small bakery-café grew, at residents' suggestion, into a full café.
That led to the opening of “Vītoliņu virtuve” a year ago. On weekdays it offers a daily lunch menu, drawing not only locals but also visitors from Jelgava and Ozolnieki. In the evenings, the café becomes a gathering place for friends and celebrations. The owners say they are glad to see returning customers and continue to gradually expand their offerings as they build their own traditions.
