Rudraksh Chugh is the founder of Marcel’s, a neighbourhood grab-and-go coffee window in Defence Colony operating under the 310 Hospitality umbrella. Raised in a family that has spent more than 50 years building hospitality brands, Rudraksh knew he could turn his childhood lessons on kitchens, service, and brand building into a simple, people-first concept. The idea was to build a compact European-style coffee window that reminds everyone of warmth, connection, and the simple joy of stepping out for a cup of coffee.
Marcel’s began as a 60 sq. ft. service hatch and has quietly grown into a community touchpoint where neighbours often meet for a conversation and a pause. For him, the project is all about preserving the human elements of service. He says,
“My company reflects my belief that hospitality must come from the heart, and that even the smallest spaces can create meaningful experiences.”
Getting Inspired
Rudraksh Chugh drew his idea from travels through Italy, France, and Spain, where small coffee kiosks punctuate city life as spaces for people to pause. Those windows, he says, offer a coffee, a conversation, and a moment of calm, a ritual he felt Delhi had lost to convenience and delivery apps.
In an exclusive interview with Entrepreneurs Today, Rudraksh reveals that he sketched the hatch himself, tested recipes at the counter, and built the menu through trial and error rather than hiring consultants. He shares,
“The process was deeply personal. Every decision, from the layout to the flavours, was built slowly and thoughtfully. Marcel’s started as a dream rooted in nostalgia, and it became real through persistence, passion, and a desire to offer something meaningful to the neighbourhood.”
The Edge
“For me, there is no concept of ‘competitors’ because Marcel’s was never created to compete.”
Marcel’s stands apart because it treats hospitality as a human exchange, not a commercial race. Marcel’s encourages familiarity and a sense of belonging that larger cafés often lose. The space is intentionally small, and every interaction is intimate.
The menu reflects the same philosophy. It was developed through genuine experimentation, which gives the place its essence. For Rudraksh, Marcel’s was never built to compete with other cafés. He asserts,
“I believe that reaching the top requires collaboration, not rivalry; competition is for those who don’t aspire to rise together. At Marcel’s, we differentiate ourselves by staying authentic, staying small with intention, and fostering a community that grows with us.”
A Rewarding Journey
Building a coffee concept inside a 60 sq. ft. window meant confronting practical limits from day one. Designing an efficient workflow, fitting the right equipment, and preserving consistency in service and flavour all required endless trial and error.
Beyond that, Rudraksh also had to change a habit by convincing people to step outside for a cup when convenience and delivery apps had made staying in the default. There were moments of uncertainty in the early days, when the idea felt unfamiliar, and footfall was uneven. The road was difficult, but he shares,
“I overcame these challenges through persistence, observation, and a willingness to adapt quickly. Every problem slowly became a chance to refine the process.”
Despite the challenges, there have also been numerous achievements. Reflecting on his journey, he states,
“For me, success is measured not just in numbers but in the small, meaningful moments, the familiar faces who return daily, the conversations shared at the window, and the sense of community we’ve built around a tiny coffee kiosk.”
He is proud of the fact that Marcel’s has become part of people’s days, the familiar face before work, the evening stop on a walk, and the pause after the gym.
Operating consistently for more than ten months while maintaining product quality and building genuine customer loyalty counts, in his view, is a major milestone. The café has quietly shifted local behaviour, nudging some residents back toward leaving home for a ritual rather than ordering in.
Looking Ahead
Rudraksh’s long-term aim is to build a legacy of thoughtful hospitality concepts that feel both personal and enduring. For Marcel’s that means measured growth, opening new outlets in carefully chosen neighbourhoods while keeping the warmth, simplicity, and heart that define the original Defence Colony window.
He plans to make each new outlet feel unique rather than replicated, borrowing the same charm of European kiosks but adapting every space to its local rhythm. Expansion will be incremental and hands on with site selection that favours footfall and community fit, a tight operational playbook born from the hatch, rigorous training so recipes and service stay consistent, and frequent local feedback to shape each location.
Rudraksh also hopes to explore complementary hospitality concepts that extend the same values of quality, storytelling and connection. These will be tested slowly. He adds,
“Achieving this requires patience, consistency, and a refusal to compromise on authenticity. I plan to build step by step, ensuring that every new space carries the same soul that Marcel’s was born with.”
Words of Wisdom
One of the strongest lessons Rudraksh carries with him is the quiet power of belief. He has learned that nothing truly begins until you trust your idea with patience and faith, even on the days when it feels unclear or impossible. Your vision does not need to convince the world at first. It only needs to feel true to you.
He found that when you visualise something with clarity, you begin to move towards it in small, intentional ways. That picture becomes an anchor during moments of doubt, guiding decisions when the path feels uncertain. The early days of Marcel’s, with their slow footfall and unfamiliar format, reinforced this lesson.
Rudraksh signs off, leaving a note for budding entrepreneurs. He says,
“Trust your ideas, even when they exist only in your mind. Visualise where you want to go and hold that picture close. Take small, honest steps every day and have faith in your journey. If your heart is in the right place, everything eventually aligns.”
