Parviz Mukhamadkulov opened the first Poetica on Smith Street in the fall of 2020. His son Noor was born weeks later. Most of the city was still closed.

The name Poetica comes from the literary traditions of Samarkand, the city where poetry and mathematics were once practiced as the same discipline. The philosophy comes from somewhere more personal: the mahalla Parviz grew up in.

A mahalla is a neighborhood. But in Uzbek tradition, it carries obligations. When a guest arrives, the entire neighborhood organizes. Tea and bread before questions. A seat before an invitation. The guest is sacred because the act of welcoming is how a community keeps itself intact.

Parviz brought that logic to Brooklyn. In practice, it looks like a café where the door doesn’t close on anyone, where tea gets poured before anyone asks who you are.

Chocolate is not just a passion, it’s a lifestyle

It started in 2007 with a science degree in Environmental Management and Technology and a deep-rooted love for chocolate. Drawing on her Danish and South African heritage, Justine Pringle and her husband, Andy Laird, founded Nunu Chocolates in the heart of Brooklyn.

Their early days were defined by the community spirit of the neighborhood—from setting up at the Brooklyn Flea and local storefronts to becoming a staple at the Union Square Holiday Market. What began as a personal project soon grew into their own dedicated shops, fueled by a simple belief that the world is a better place when chocolate is involved.While their artisanal bonbons and small-batch bars gained a loyal following, it was the Hand-Dipped Salt Caramels that truly captured people’s hearts. 

Today, that same commitment to sustainability and handmade craft remains at the core of every box.

Emma Lazarus was a Jewish woman living in New York in the 19th century. She was a tireless advocate for refugees. She called for action during a time when the voices of women were so rarely heard.

Emma also made her voice heard through her poetry, which won her praise from an early age. Her 1883 sonnet, “The New Colossus,” is her most well-known work since some of its verses adorn the base of the Statue of Liberty. Her words are emblematic of a vision for the United States whose core value is welcoming new arrivals. 

For over 100 years, those words have greeted thousands of refugees fleeing hardship and dreaming of a better life in America. Although Lady Liberty is no longer the first site for those coming to the United States, the words still ring true.

We honor Emma’s advocacy and her emphasis on vocational training. She created a movement whose legacy we are proud to uphold.

At TOMIZ, we love to do many different things. We create an experience for people who want to visit daily and leave with a unique experience every time. We have an infinite amount of combinations, so each time you visit us, you’ll have a different meal to try.