After serving in the Armenian army for sixteen years, Anushavan Kalashyan turned his attention to promoting rural tourism in Armavir Province, which is traditionally famous only for the Zvartnots ruins, Etchmiadzin and the Sardarapat Memorial. 

Kalashyan left the army in 2011, with the rank of major, and opened a simple bread bakery in order to have tasty bread, which was hard to find. He says that after eating his grandma’s lavash, it was difficult to eat store bought bread.

Anushavan Kalashyan

The budding entrepreneur then decided to expand the business. Three years after opening the bakery, he turned the place into a quaint eatery for local residents and international tourists.

To build the Mer Hayat Inn to display Armenian rural lifestyle and culture, Kalashyan took a loan, which he’s still paying off. 

"All the adverts lie. Interest rates are quite high, and the loans are not long-term. I cannot go on vacation. I must work to pay the high interest loan,” says Kalashyan.

He has an investment project in mind and is waiting for the "My Step for Armavir Province" business forum in autumn, hoping to get financial support. Currently, Kalashyan is looking for a partner to further develop rural tourism and production.

The bakery has eight employees and needs five more. Kalashyan is ready to train on the spot, but there are no applicants.

"If someone says that there are no jobs in Armenia, they’re  lying. The salaries might be low, but it is still better than asking for help,” says Kalashyan.

He says they now have three tons of apricots that can be turned into vodka, but there are no employees to distill it. 

Kalashyan advises those who want to start a business to evaluate their resources and take smart and thoughtful steps without seeking to get instantly rich. 

He also underlines the role of the family. 

"My wife and I work equally with workers and employees. If you are going to put your hands in your pockets and watch from a distance, then you will become broke,” says the entrepreneur.

Kalashyan says everything is prepared according to traditional rural recipes. 

Visitors can feast on shredded steak and eggs (ghavurma), pumpkin soup, khash, grilled meat, harissa and so on.

The Kalashyans have some four hectares of orchards in the village, which is taken care of by his father. 

Kalashyan plans to build a guest house with a wine cellar, since many tourists are tired of urban life and prefer to experience the rural environment.

Kalashyan also runs a fast food place next to the eatery. It’s for the local menfolk who like to have more than a few stiff drinks when they sit down for a meal with friends.

Kalashyan plans to build a guest house with a wine cellar, since many tourists are tired of urban life and prefer to experience the rural environment.

“I won’t allow this place being turned into a place for excessive eating and imbibing. That’s what the fast food place is for,” he says.