Have you met Kamini?

Kamini is the shining star of our new Bolton Sunset Grill restaurant.

There’s a certain gravity that pulls you toward Kamini, you feel it the moment she greets you as you walk into the restaurant. She’s always sporting a sunny smile.

“When I enter here, my face, it’s always happy,” she says with a grin. “Many of our customers tell me that my smile is excellent. If I am giving and put happiness out into the world, it comes back.”

Kamini and her husband Rushi took over ownership of the Bolton Sunset Grill location back in June 2021. “It’s been hard; on and off, closed, open,” says Kamini. “When we opened, it was patio only, then limited capacity. Everything is new for us.”

Kamini, Franchise Owner, Bolton Sunset Grill.

Despite a challenging start as a new franchise owner operating a restaurant amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamini keeps smiling.

The past year has presented a little more stability in operations and they’ve been happy to welcome guests new and old into their dining room. Every experience, every customer matters to them, and they are continually learning. “We talk to our customers and learn from them,” says Kamini. “It’s important for us to improve on our experiences.”

Kamini didn’t come from a restaurant or hospitality background; however, it was her penchant for human connection that inspired her to join the ranks of Sunset Grill franchisees. It’s the relationships she’s built with not only her guests but also her staff, that keep her motivated.

She sees her team members as an extension of her family. “A good strong team makes a good strong [restaurant],” she says. “We’re all in this together, this is my team, my family.”

Family has always been an important value for her. Not only is she extremely close with her own parents, she’s also mom to a young 13-year-old boy named Dhruv. His name was inspired by the North Star, or Dhruva Tara (fixed star) – the brightest star in the sky.

It’s clear in speaking with Kamini that her son lights up her life. “Mother is a unique person,” she says. “Mother can handle any situation. Mother is the special person of the whole family. If I’m mom, my face is always smiling, that means by kids will be too.”

She’s very aware of the example she sets for her son, and follows in the footsteps of her own parents, whom she deeply respects.

Kamini explains that while Indian culture doesn’t necessarily celebrate Mother’s Day in the traditional sense, they honour mom in different ways. “In our culture, we are living with mother, we celebrate mother every day.”

Kamini (left), her son Dhruv (centre) and husband Rushi (right).

One year her son decided to do something special for her and (attempt) to make her cheesecake, one of her favourite desserts. It nearly brought her to tears.

“Any kind of dessert you give me, I love it,” she laughs. It’s those small gestures that go a long way for Kamini.

She’s very much looking forward to celebrating moms in her restaurant this coming Mother’s Day and plans to carry on the tradition of celebrating mom at home in her own way.

“Mom is working very hard,” she says. “Good times come from hard work.”

The next time you’re in the area be sure to stop by our Bolton Sunset Grill and say hi to Kamini and her amazing team!

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Kamini is part of this year’s Mother’s Day profile series highlighting Breakfast Moms – the strong and talented women that make up the many faces of the Sunset Grill community.

STORE INFORMATION

Hwy 50 & George Bolton Pkwy.