Why I traded Chicago for Bratislava
- infoglobalslovakia
- Nov 4, 2025
- 3 min read
My roots were Slovak, but my life was American — until I chose to change that. Running a café in Bratislava, I’ve found community and a place that feels like home.
Rob Chopik and his wife, Cory, in their café in Bratislava. (source: Courtesy, Robert Chopik)
My name is Robert, and for the past two years my wife, Cory, and I have called Bratislava’s Staré Mesto (The Old Town) home.
After visiting Slovakia several times, I knew it was somewhere I wanted to stay. I enjoyed the time with friends, the nature, and the overall way of life here. My father’s family originally came from the eastern city of Snina, though he rarely spoke about what his grandparents and father knew of the country or its traditions.
Growing up in Chicago, I was surrounded by a large Central European community of Czechs, Slovaks, and Poles, so many familiar traditions and foods were still part of daily life. To non-Slovaks, Slovakia remains a bit unknown — or, if known, underrated and misunderstood. To Slovaks, its beauty and qualities can sometimes be overlooked or forgotten; something that happens to all of us when we live amid the ordinary rhythm of daily life.
Back in 2015, I began exploring the Slovak Living Abroad (SLA) certificate and started working toward obtaining it in 2017. It was a fairly obscure process at the time, so I had to learn through trial and error. I hoped to get the certificate, even though I believed it was unlikely I would ever have the chance to actually make the move. After a lot of hard work — and a few unsuccessful attempts — I was finally granted my SLA card in 2020.
From uncertainty to opportunity
A few years later, in early 2023, some changes at work brought uncertainty about the future. Cory and I were also looking for a place to settle down, somewhere we could build a better life. When my company opened a position in Europe, I volunteered for a transfer. With the SLA card granting me the right to work in Slovakia, it felt like a sign — and a win-win scenario.
That decision began a fast-track move to Bratislava later that year, which we managed entirely on our own: selling or giving away almost everything we had, and packing up the rest to bring on our flights. We spent countless hours searching online for real estate and taking virtual tours with a local agent. Eventually, we found a great flat we could afford on a quiet street, still close to everything the city has to offer.
I arrived in Bratislava in September 2023 with our two cats, setting up our new home while Cory’s residence permit was being processed. She was finally able to join me the following July. Life here is safe, comfortable, and generally easier, with fewer worries — except for the occasional bureaucratic hurdles that can make foreigners feel unwelcome in a place they truly wish to call home. Still, outside of that, everyone we meet has shown us kindness and understanding, even as we both continue to struggle with the language.
Our little café
Most recently, we took a big risk and opened our own café, Kávozrnko, on Obchodná Street in Staré Mesto. We wanted to create something that would help us become part of our community and give us the opportunity to share the great coffees and teas that Slovak roasters are making. Every coffee, tea, and pastry we serve comes from Slovak roasters, bakeries, and importers.
Kávozrnko, Bratislava (source: Courtesy, Robert Chopik)
Opening a business here has been daunting, but it’s something we’re extremely proud to have done. There’s been an enormous amount of preparation, bureaucracy to navigate, ever-rising costs and sudden tax hikes, and hard-learned lessons about trust. Yet every day we meet amazing people — Slovaks, immigrants, and tourists — each leaving their mark on us. We’re working hard to build a space where everyone, local or visitor, can feel comfortable and welcome, just as we’ve been made to feel here.
In one more year, I’ll be eligible to apply for Slovak citizenship — something I’ve looked forward to for a long time. Until then, Cory and I will keep working in our café every day, trying to build a better life for ourselves. We also hope to make more time for holidays around Slovakia and Europe, and to revisit the people and places that first made us fall in love with this country.
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