American billionaire and PayPal founder Peter Thiel once described restaurants as the worst business to invest in. He cited high failure rates, fierce competition, and low wages. However, for one Gujarati immigrant, opening a restaurant in New Jersey was a game-changing decision. Despite having only completed 10th grade, he became a millionaire through sheer determination and common sense.
The Story Of A Gujarati Immigrant In New Jersey
Advantage of being a Gujarati:
Met a Patel friend who runs a restaurant in New Jersey.
He was in his late 40s and 10th pass. I am engineer with masters degree who listens to podcasts. 😂
I told him that Peter Thiel said that worst business one can do is open a restaurant.…
— Sunil (@sunilavaria) August 18, 2024
Sunil, an X (Formerly, Twitter) user, recently shared the success story of his Gujarati friend on social media. This friend, a Patel from New Jersey, runs a thriving Gujarati restaurant. Sunil, an engineer with a master’s degree, admitted he often listens to podcasts. In contrast, his friend, who only completed 10th grade, achieved remarkable success.
“I met a Patel friend who runs a restaurant in New Jersey. He was in his late 40s and a 10th pass. I’m an engineer with a master’s degree who listens to podcasts,” Sunil wrote on X (Formerly, Twitter).
Sunil had previously mentioned Peter Thiel’s view that restaurants are a poor investment choice. He conveyed Thiel’s belief that restaurants face unpredictable customers and high failure rates. The Patel, however, had a different perspective.
The Key To A Loyal Customer Base
The Gujarati entrepreneur countered Thiel’s opinion with confidence. He explained that his restaurant is supported by at least 50 loyal families. If his food ever lacks salt, his customers simply request more. They don’t stop coming over minor issues. The key, he said, is maintaining good relationships and understanding customer needs.
The location also played a crucial role in the restaurant’s success. Situated on the route to the popular Swaminarayan Temple in Robinsville, New Jersey, the restaurant benefits from a steady flow of Gujarati visitors. Many come from New York and Pennsylvania in tourist buses, making it a point to stop for a delicious Gujarati thali. This consistent foot traffic adds up to 50-75 people per bus.
The restaurant owner’s routine is simple: he wakes up daily to prepare dal, chawal, roti, sabzi, and dhokla. In just 10 years, this straightforward approach has turned him into a millionaire.
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Sunil’s post, highlighting the success of this 10th-pass immigrant, went viral with over 300,000 views on X (Formerly, Twitter). He concluded his story by emphasising that success does not always require advanced degrees or extensive planning. Sometimes, common sense, intuition, and the ability to take calculated risks are all it takes.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Representative Image), @sunilavaria/X (Formerly, Twitter)