Not everyone would look at a shipping container and see opportunity for making a lifelong dream come true. But difficult times can awaken the visionary in the right sort of people.
Margaret Davies Raisele and husband Joe Raisele have proven to be exactly those people with their new restaurant The Food Stop.
When Joe’s fish supply business, their family’s main source of income, hit a rough patch during the second wave of COVID-19 they needed a new direction.
Despite a career background in export and administrative management, Margaret had always wanted to get into the food business.
Having been a homemaker for nine years, she was quite pleased when her husband surprised her with the plan to remodel a shipping container into a restaurant she would own and manage.
After an investment of $40,000 and a long struggle with the construction and remodelling process, The Food Stop was finally able to seat its first hungry customers in February this year.
Located across the road from My Suva Park, the restaurant serves a classically local mix of Fijian, Chinese and fast food.
“We wanted to be able to serve all the food people go into town for so whatever people are in the mood for they can still come here. I wanted to feed people from all walks of life,” said Margaret, adding that the restaurant is a good stop for locals looking to grab a bite while enjoying the park or for tourists who want to eat in a simpler, casual setting where they can feel at home and enjoy a local menu.
While the current long-term road works in the area do affect business, Margaret is eager to see a new surge of customers once the beautification of the surrounding public areas are complete, and in the meantime the restaurant is happy to serve the road workers when they need a quick pick-me-up during the day with prices that “suit people’s pockets”.
The Food Stop leans on its income from catering orders when business is slow and the Raiseles are making plans to extend the restaurant in the near future. With a woman owner and an all-female staff, Margaret says “for me it’s not so much about the business side as it is about helping other women now.
“Those that have special skills that aren’t being used and here they can be given the rightful pay and treatment, the respect that they’re supposed to receive.
“My main priority is that my workers are happy. My main focus is my workers, if they’re happy I’m happy.”
Having made her restaurant dream come true with the unconditional support of her husband, Margaret is ready for The Food Stop to gain traction and become a household name for food that is as delicious as it is affordable.
“For me it’s a miracle, because I’ve always wanted something in this area. “For me it’s like God answered my prayers, it felt that way.”
