Salah Youssef is not afraid of taking chances. After working in his family’s oil business for 11 years, he packed his bags and traveled the world for nine months to decompress and rediscover himself.

After returning from his trip five years ago, Youssef settled down, took a chance and opened his own business: Reverie Coffee Den. After being stuck behind a desk for most of his working life, Youssef opened up Reverie on a whim. Though he said he discovered coffee by accident, serving locally roasted organic coffee and interacting with customers quickly became his vocation.

“I love the interaction with people — it’s become a part of my life that I cannot give up,” Youssef said. “I was taking some time to look for a place to open up Reverie and found a spot right next to the University. It was exactly the place for me.”

Youssef said he’s never complained since he opened Reverie. Though his shop has opened a chapter in his life he never thought he would experience, his willingness to try out new things fulfills his laid-back lifestyle.

“I worked really hard with my family’s work, and thought it was time for me to enjoy my life,” Youssef said. “Reverie just happened. It’s like everything is set in place, and that’s the best way to look at life. I just took some time to think, and I figured that things come your way. I know what I want in life and I’m happy to make this happen.”

Youssef instilled his relaxed lifestyle into Reverie, with Portuguese music in the background from his native country of Brazil. He is also on a first-name basis with most of his customers. Youssef said his mission for Reverie is not to make money, but provide an environment for people to be open and enjoy life.

“Lots of coffee shops are busy, and people are always running around. That’s life. I want Reverie to be a place for people to slow down,” Youssef said.

Youssef infused his open-minded worldview into Reverie, and the coffee shop has also become Raleigh’s unofficial Brazilian embassy.

“When many new Brazilian students come to the University for the first time, many stop by Reverie,” Youssef said. “It’s the first stop. I don’t advertise or have a website, but they know because students in Brazil talked about Reverie.”

Youssef’s parents are from Palestine, but he was born and raised in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and Arabic. Youssef incorporated his open and accepting worldview into the shop and encourages his customers to try and explore their options.

“I always say to be open — don’t go for the menu,” Youssef said. “I make many signature drinks for my friends. Open your mind and try things. Now, I’m not just talking about coffee. Reverie is more than trying coffee.”

But for those interested in trying the coffee, Youssef sells coffee beans roasted from Larry Larson, founder and owner of Raleigh based roaster ‘Larry’s Beans.’

“Reverie attracts a crowd of inspired young people who care about good coffee and good-for-the-world business,” Larson said. “That is why Larry’s Beans is such a good fit and why we’re excited to be there.”

Youssef said that while Reverie is his place of business, he’s not doing this entirely for the money. He places no advertisements and his business comes by word of mouth. He said this happens just from everyday chit chat.

“I love to interact with people and make friends, and I was missing that in the oil business,” Youssef said. “Of course this place is a business, but I like to interact with people from different communities, different sexual orientations, different races, different religions. We are all just one big world. And some people think the kitchen’s the best place to be in the house. I think the cup of coffee is the best thing for starting conversations.”

Though Youssef attracts business from passersby on Hillsborough Street, many of his loyal customers patronize his shop on a daily basis. If Will Lampe is not in class, he is usually found reading and sipping coffee in Reverie.

“I’ve been going to Reverie since the beginning of last year,” Lampe, a senior in industrial engineering, said. “The atmosphere is cozy… you can study if you want to or talk with a friend.”

Lampe said other coffee shops are too loud and busy. According to Lampe, this creates an impersonal atmosphere that Reverie has avoided.

“I go to Reverie frequently to study and I’ve gotten to know Salah moderately well,” Lampe said. “Salah will remember customers and will ask them about their job or studies. I think he’s a very open individual.”

Youssef is the shop’s only employee. In a way, Youssef is Reverie, and he sees his shop as a part of the Raleigh community.

“I would have never opened up Reverie if I didn’t get to know my community. I want people to try to learn about where you live,” Youssef said. “Opening up a coffee shop was a distant dream for me, and I have followed what I like. This is a part of me, as well as part of all my friends who’ve made this happen.”