Wechsler's Currywurst
Immigrants are 30 percent more likely to start businesses than non-immigrants.
From national grocery chains to one-woman printing stores, immigrants continue to flock to the US and become their own bosses.
Andre Wechsler, a German immigrant living in New York's East Village, saw a gap in the market and decided to take a chance to fulfil a dream.
He opened the only German Currywurst restaurant in the area two years ago, and I stopped by to see how business is going.
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Why do you think immigrants are more apt to open their own business than non-immigrants? Are you a recent immigrant who has opened a business? What hurdles have you had to overcome?
Comment number 1.
At 16th Jul 2010, Article6Clause2 wrote:Interesting! Are you going to be near Milwaukee (WI) any time? That's my city and I'm proud of it :)
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Comment number 2.
At 16th Jul 2010, FFMexpat wrote:Why didn't we find out how the Currywurst tasted? That is what every German wants to know!
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Comment number 3.
At 16th Jul 2010, naidoomerit wrote:People in South Africa have been making many variations of this for over a 100 years.
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Comment number 4.
At 16th Jul 2010, Jahnzilla wrote:Perhaps the south Africans should have started a restaurant themselves.
I tried currywurst in Germany and found it pretty horrible! But good on the guy for making a success of his business.
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Comment number 5.
At 16th Jul 2010, papayas wrote:My parents immigrated to Canada, from China, to start a better life. They opened up their own small business because they wanted to better provide for their family. They would not have been able to make as much money as they did working for another business, as they were not highly educated and didn't know very much English. They had a strong work ethic, never taking a day off, because they wanted their children to get a good education so we wouldn't have to work as physically hard as they did. I think they've done very well for themselves; they paid for all four of their children to go to university (none of us had to take out loans), and now they are retired and enjoy traveling.
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Comment number 6.
At 16th Jul 2010, Montegooner wrote:Immigrants that have moved to another country do so well in opening business's as they have great optimism having moved to a new country and environment and have a no fear attitude. Would love to try some of that food one day!
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Comment number 7.
At 16th Jul 2010, videostar wrote:The video is awful, how did you manage to get the businessman out of focus and overexposed at the same time.
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Comment number 8.
At 20th Jul 2010, Franz Strasser wrote:@ Article6Clause2: I'm afraid not. What are some recent immigration patterns in Milwaukee?
@ FFMexpat: I simply wanted to spare people who were watching and craving one themselves. It tasted delicious!
@ naidoomerit: I'd love to try one! Can you find those in the US?
@ cynama: thanks for sharing that story! I think work ethic is an important factor. Afterall, immigrants come to the US almost on a mission to improve their life and their childrens, as it was the case with your parents.
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