Today we’d like to introduce you to Saltanat Bolat.
Hi Saltanat, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved to the U.S. with my family and, like many immigrants, I was rebuilding my life from scratch. As a person who has always worked and stayed active, I wanted to do something but wasn’t sure what exactly. My husband always said that I needed to do something on my own since I have very creative ideas. I also owned a business in Kazakhstan, and he told me I should go see Old Town Spring and open a shop there.
When I went to Old Town Spring and saw all the different shops, I immediately knew that there should be a shop from Kazakhstan there. I’ve always loved my Kazakh culture, craftsmanship, and meaningful details. Introducing my culture in the U.S. just made sense. I thought we need a space that will show and explain the beauty of Kazakhstan and Kazakh culture.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course , it’s not easy to start everything from scratch, especially when you’re not that young and in a completely new country. But there’s a Kazakh saying, “Köz qorqaq, qol batyr,” which means “the eyes are afraid, but the hands are brave.” It means you just need to start doing instead of just looking, overthinking, and being scared. So I think I didn’t think too much, after I made a decision that I want to open the Kazakh shop, I slowly just started doing what I needed to do, one step at a time. The hardest thing in my business is bringing all the items from Kazakhstan. Since Kazakhstan doesn’t have access to the ocean, it makes shipping goods more complicated and expensive.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Kazakh House?
The Kazakh House is more than just a retail shop. It’s a cultural space where people can experience Kazakhstan through craftsmanship, design, music, and hospitality.
We specialize in Kazakh-inspired gifts, traditional clothing, jewelry, rugs, ornaments, and handmade pieces that carry meaning. Every pattern, every embroidery, every detail has a story behind it. I’m very intentional about what I bring, it’s not mass production, it’s carefully selected items that represent our heritage.
What sets us apart is that we are not just selling products , we are sharing culture. We host dombyra (Kazakh traditional musical instrument) concerts, tea gatherings, and educational events so people can truly feel the spirit of Kazakhstan. Many of our visitors say they didn’t know anything about Kazakhstan before coming, and they leave feeling connected and curious.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that The Kazakh House has become a bridge between cultures. Americans discover something new, and Kazakh families feel proud seeing their culture represented beautifully here.
I want readers to know that this is a space created with heart. It’s about identity, roots, and bringing meaningful craftsmanship into everyday life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I feel like many things in my life came together like puzzle pieces. I have always been proud of my Kazakh culture, fascinated by it, and wanted to share it with others. In fact, I made my first money by sharing my culture. I used to make handmade napkins with Kazakh embroidery, “biz keste,” and selling them to tourists from the USA. so in many ways this path feels very natural to me.
Whether it was luck, coincidence, or tağdyr (God’s will), one important moment was when we bought our house. My husband was in a different city, and I was in Kazakhstan. We bought the house without really knowing the area. Somehow, it ended up being right next to Old Town Spring. That made it feel almost natural and easy to start my business there.
Looking back, it feels like both intention and destiny played a role.
Pricing:
- Chocolates from Kazakhstan starting from -3$
- Kazakh traditional hats starting from -5$
- Kazakh chai- free with any purchase
- Souvenirs like key chains starting from -3$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thekazakhhouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_kazakh_house?igsh=ZTR0NXN3dWtnYWZ4&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CRmHZKGMz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
