President Stubb spoke to café owner in his native language

President Alexander Stubb surprised David Maximillien Mbing, the Cameroonian owner of Kultaranta café in Naantala, by speaking to him in French, Mbing’s native language, during a visit last summer, Yle reports.

Mbing, who has run the café near the president’s summer residence for 13 years, said he was initially unaware of the proximity to the official retreat. He once emailed former President Sauli Niinistö inviting him to visit, which led to a meeting with Niinistö, his wife Jenni Haukio, and their dog.

Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb visited the café multiple times last summer, walking in without fanfare. Mbing recalled being impressed by their fluent French, which he said surpassed his own.

Security measures around the summer residence sometimes disrupt the area, with police escorts and diplomatic vehicles passing by. Mbing noted that in his home country of Cameroon, seeing a president in person outside of television is unheard of. “It was a big surprise that in this country, the top leaders can walk freely on the street and come to talk,” he said.

Regular customers Eija Pomrén and Päivi Sola, long-time residents of Kultaranta, have encountered presidents over the years. Pomrén recounted how dogs often broke the ice in conversations, including with Niinistö and former President Tarja Halonen.

Mbing observed a decline in foot traffic since the pandemic, attributing it to economic hardship. His café, open year-round, now relies more on loyal patrons. In April, he received an award as Naantali’s most youth-friendly business, reflecting his long-standing engagement with young visitors.