From high school dropout to successful restaurateur. This is the success story of Emil Senkel, who was only 19 years old.
“Not approved for the Abitur”, Emil said two years ago at his high school in Friedrichshain. But instead of being discouraged, the student made new plans. The goal: your own French bistro! He found a suitable shop in Moabit and rented it.
The teenager renovated the rooms while others studied for their high school exams. “I didn’t want to waste any time. I mostly slept on a mattress here in the shop,” says the young entrepreneur.
First he sold candy bars and snacks to the students at the school across the street. Then in August 2020 his first filter coffee. In the meantime, his small bistro “Chez Emil” (at Emil’s) is booming, and the teenage founder has been joined by a chef. In the summer, the team grows to up to five people.
It was clear from an early age that Emil could cook. While the parents both worked late, Emil stood in the kitchen and cooked for his two little siblings. Later in the computer science advanced course there was no longer any doubt for him: “I don’t want to work for someone else later, I’d rather do my own thing!”
Even as a minor, Emil earned something extra with a few internships. He put his savings in Tesla shares – but that was still illegal under the age of 18! It happened the way it had to. Emil made a loss of several thousand euros in the risk game with the shares.
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His last hope: he contacted his stock broker via social networks and confessed that he was not yet of legal age. Lucky for him, he got his entire savings back.
From his mistake he learned: “I want to be responsible for my own success”. He stayed away from stocks. “Sometimes you just have to take things into your own hands”, reveals Emil with a beaming smile, “if you really want to get something done, you just have to really put your mind to it”.
Chez Emil, Bochumer Straße 17 in Moabit, open Tuesday to Saturday from 11.30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tel. 030-25776851
