Breakfast Moms – Deepa
Have you met Deepa?
Deepa is one of the Franchise Owners of our new Fairview Mall, St. Catharines Sunset Grill. She’s a hard-working, driven woman who isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and work hard to accomplish her goals.
“I never imagined I would own a restaurant like this,” she says with pride. “But here I am today. I tell people: dream about it. You will be able to make [it] a success. There’s no such thing [as] ‘I don’t know;’ you can always learn a trade.”
It’s taken Deepa a lot of hard work and sacrifice to get to where she is today. She attributes that success to her desire to learn, and family support system.
I trained in every position so I could have a full understanding of restaurant operations, says Deepa. Her brother, Ricky, is a Franchise Owner at the Cambridge Sunset Grill and she worked closely with him to learn everything she could about the restaurant.
“Always improve and try to better yourself,” she says.
Deepa and her husband Pank emigrated from India back in 2002. When they arrived, they worked different retail jobs while also focusing on education and building a brighter future for themselves in Canada. “It really is ‘the’ country to live in,” says Deepa.
“It has given so many opportunities to newcomers. As long as you have a willingness to work, there are tremendous opportunities to grow here,” she says with deep appreciation. “We worked hard and turned it around; but are also very thankful to Canada, and the people here who have always supported us.”
That willingness to work hard is a trait she has passed onto her teenage daughters, who are eager to make their mark on the world.
Anjile is the creative, while Annamika is the analytical mind. They volunteer at the restaurant, in addition to keeping the house tidy at home. Annamika is a budding entrepreneur who wants to teach seniors social media, a cause Deepa fully encourages.
“I’m very happy with them,” says Deepa, as she glows with admiration.
Last year on Mother’s Day her daughters created a custom menu for her to “order” breakfast from. Each menu item had a set price: kisses. Each additional ingredient cost extra kisses from mom.
This year’s Mother’s Day will look a little different, as she’ll be working at Sunset Grill. However, Deepa is looking forward to greeting all the moms that come in. She suspects her daughters may have something in-store for her as well.
When they’re not busy at the restaurant, Deepa and her family like to travel, particularly, they love road trips. They’ve explored Miami, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, Los Angeles, North Carolina, and are hoping to make it out to Banff, Alberta this summer.
“My older daughter wants to see the scenic view of Lake Louise and draw it,” she says with a smile.
Three months into operations at the Fairview Mall Sunset Grill, Deepa is proud of her ability to jump in wherever she’s needed, whether that be greeting customers, working the cash register, cooking in the kitchen, or washing dishes. She can do it all.
Her favourite part about the restaurant is the connections she makes with guests.
“We’re becoming a family now,” she says.
“I like to cheer them up; make their day. That’s what we’re here for.”
The next time you stop by for breakfast or lunch at our Fairview Mall, St. Catharines Sunset Grill, be sure to say hi to Deepa!
STORE INFORMATION
Fairview Mall
285 Geneva St.,
St. Catharines, ON, L2N 2G1
Open Daily 7 AM to 3 PM
