Owner of new Haverhill restaurant/bar adapts swiftly to help it survive the new lockdown
The owner of a fledgling business in Haverhill that houses a grocery store, restaurant and bar on the one premises is adapting to the demands placed on him by the latest coronavirus lockdown.
Mario Coliof only opened the restaurant and bar at his business La Mario 1st Traveller, sandwiched between Glassfusion and Snobby Eddy Crafts in Hollands Road, a couple of weeks ago.
It had been based at the Menta Business Centre, also in Hollands Road, when it was purely a grocery store and called 1st Traveller.
But after the opportunity came to move to a bigger premises, Mario and his wife Tatiana saw the potential for opening a restaurant and bar inside the building.
Investment was made in an extensive refurbishment, including a new kitchen, new toilets, security systems with CCTV (to help meet Covid track and trace rules), and knocking down an internal wall to create space for the eating area.
He has also got new offices upstairs, where he also bases his other business, MTA Health Care Solutions, a nursing and healthcare agency.
And then came the announcement of the new four-week lockdown, leaving Mario having to close the eating area for now, but the shop remains open.
Ever a fast mover and adaptor, Mario, who came to England with Tatiana from Romania 15 years ago, has brought in a click and collect take-away service, which can also be accessed using the ‘Goodeats’ app. A delivery service may soon follow.
From this week, Mario is also launching an in-house bakery, with free delivery on offer to customers.
“We will still be allowed to do take away, which is brilliant because we will still be able to survive”, said Mario, who has two children, aged seven and ten and like his wife is an experienced nurse.
“We have got customers that come in and they have been eating and they’ve been amazed at how good our food is and it is a shame that the place will be closed for the public.
“We are positive and we keep ourselves confident because without hard work nothing can happen.
“We know its hard work but achievement always comes with hard work. We want to survive all these hard times.”
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