Bamboo Shack In Talks With West Chefs For Expansion
A 39-year-old who spent a month in CWM Hospital car park without adequate food and water while his mother was admitted, has opened a restaurant.
“I could not go home, I was upset and needed tea and coffee late at night,” said Sunil Prasad.
He turned the lesson into a business opportunity when he opened Bamboo Shack at 21 Extension Street, Suva, in partnership with his best friend, Atish Sharma, who is a qualified chef.
The duo are now discussing expansion plans.
September, 2020
The duo launched their business in September, 2020 in the hope of providing a relaxing environment for those who visited their relatives in the hospital.
It was also established for the benefit of medical students and hardworking frontliners.
“Most of the people who come to CWM hospital are not rich,” he said.
“To afford a meal of about $20 would have been hard.”
“We thought we should open something here that could cater for the frontliners and relatives of the patients.”
Challenge
Mr Prasad and his best friend invested about $35,000 in the restaurant.
Business has picked up, the duo said.
“We had to close the restaurant for a few months, but we provided food deliveries to keep us open,” Mr Prasad said.
One of the greatest challenges they faced was building their customer-base.
“People know me in the corporate world but not in the food business,” Mr Prasad said.
“There were so many people who did not believe us or our product quality.”
“When we opened the restaurant, customers had to sit under umbrellas.
“There was no roof so during heavy rain, there was no flow of customers.”
Expansion
“We are in the process of talking to some qualified chefs in the West and expanding our business,” he said.
“My message is to not get disheartened.”
“If you cannot find a job in the qualification you attained, look for your hidden skill.”
“Everyone needs to find out their hidden skill and use it as their second option.”
“People say this might not be the great time to invest but I had faith in myself and my product.”
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