rsk

Ever thought of starting a small restaurant serving south indian food in any of the food courts in GTA malls?

All food courts serve all kind of delicacies - american/chinese/mexican/thai but I am yet to see a single desi restaurant in food courts. As a vegetarian, you are stuck with few choices.

Yes. I would love to see some Indian flavour in otherwise bland food court food

Thanks again for your comments guys. Can you all suggest areas in Mississauga or Brampton which you think would be a good location for a south indian veg restaurant.

Cheers
rsk

Hi MR
Thanks for your response. I would really love to move to Vancouver., but I dont have any base there. I will have to start form scratch. But i do have plans to start somtthing there. Can you suggest some areas where a south indian veg restaurant will do well.

Thanks
rsk

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Hi rsk:
sorry it took me a while to respond to your post, its been very busy at work. I am in the Vancouver area and can give you my opinion. First, there are a few south indian (veg and non veg) restaurants here and until recently Saravana Bhavan was one of the best. It was packed with people every day, not just indians either. Then, something changed in the taste of the food (new cook or new ingredients??) Anyway we go less often but I hear its still busy. It is located downtown. There are some in surrey that are good, but I think location makes a huge difference.
Secondly, I wouldnt compromise my own food principles. I too am vegetarian and wouldnt feel happy serving non- veg food to others. BC has a large number of vegetarian restaurants (Indian, asian, chinese, etc) that do well. It is the quality and taste of the food that matters most.

Vancouver is known as the #1 Vegetarian friendly city in Canada. People here are generally very health conscious as well and many people are becoming more aware of the healthy ingredients in south indian food and it is very popular.(goveg.com)

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A decent place to rent with great exposure will cost $3,600.00/ month = 43,000.00
Your own salary. I doubt you will make the grade. $3,000.00/m = 36,000.00
A retired cook $2,000.00/m =24,000.00
A trainee waitress @ $10.00/hr 56hr week $2,400.00/m =29,000.00

A Grand Total of =132,000.00

Ingredients required for the generation of the revenue $30,000.00 = 30,000.00
This is the basic expense. There are other expenses, such as phone, Electricity, Heating, Accounting and other sundry expenses.

Daily income of a minimum of $450.00

If you work an Eight hour day $55.00/hr.

You will be on your toes spinning like a top, working your butt off for the rest of your life, not knowing if you are coming or going.

Ever heard of a B.A.Fly? Not the British nor the American, It has a BLUE Rear.

But one ting for sure, You can always eat what you cannot sell. YOU WILL NEVER GO HUNGRY. EVER!!.

You think you can make it? If you think it is feasible, then I think so too.

Freddie.

It will be great if we can get a small desi food joints in Malls. Everytime I shop and feel hungry, I always wish to have idly or pav but endup with taco or pizza.

Not necessarily it needs to be in a mall where it cost you hell to have a place. To my expectation, a unit in a strip mall (decent one) would do.
I think emphasize should go on Quality, Service and most importantly marketing.

You might want to consider maintaining your full time job while setting up this venture and wait until it stabilizes, when the number units multiply, you could switch to this full time.

You have lot of tech. gadgets to remotely monitor the business within the limits of law.

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Originally posted by rsk12

Thanks again for your comments guys. Can you all suggest areas in Mississauga or Brampton which you think would be a good location for a south indian veg restaurant.

Cheers
rsk

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The cowards never started,
The weak died on the way,
Only the strong arrived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yK1i9cLAMM

It have been there and done that.

This business looks rosy on top but it is very murky water.

Every Desi in GTA has run away from this business after making heavy losses.

Next time you visit Mississauga look at the key word "under new management" on all the restaurant/take out places.

The Gujarathi food guy on the Newin food court - Ran Away to India because the very same Gujjus who have to support him would go to the Gurulakshmi who used to be across the food court.

There is a fundamental question to be answered even before you think about this food business in GTA.

1.Are you a ethical person - Answere to yourself YES or NO.

2.Will you be able to lie to your employee, break labor laws and be a slave employer ?. - YES or NO.

3.Do you sympathise and empathize with your employees - YES or NO.

4.Are you willing to do cash transactions, cheat on taxes and employ illegals on cash basis?. - YES or NO.

5.Are you willing to do 16 hours days - 7 days a week ?- YES or NO.

6.Will you be able to Grease health and other inspectors? - YES or NO.

7.Are you willing to launder money from India for a local MLA, business man or other big wig through your restaurant ?- YES or NO.

8.Are you willing to give a refuse a refund when your food is faulty(stale food, stones in the food, cold food) or due to other issues while squarely looking at the eyes of the customer?-YES or NO.

9.Are you willing to bring chefs/cooks from India by promising heaven and making them work at pittance, while holding their passports in your bank locker?. - YES or NO.

10.Are you willing to take the hard earned TIPS given by the customers to your employees to break even?.- YES or NO.

If you answer NO to any of the above questions please do not even think about this business.

It is not like managing a store there are more darker secrets in this business which you'll learn by being there than talking to people or preparing a business to fail.

There is a particular business being mentioned repeatedly in the above responses. Please ask about the reputation of the family in Chennai of that business. The father and the sons and their business. Please do a google search about them and you'll realize about them. There is a reason for their success and if you were an ethical person you will not enter that restaurant never again as your payment will help them to further their dark side.

This is really spooky and do your homework before threading this needle.

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Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.