Three young friends join hands for entrepreneurial venture
SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Sep 10: Shahji Shakil, Shaqoor Sheikh and Zakib Gull are three close friends who decided to join their heads and hands together, not only to give a new alternative to the food loving people but to adjust unemployed professionals in their new venture.
The three founders of Urban Griddle opened the first branch of their Café cum multi cuisine restaurant with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 7, at Zero Bridge near HDFC Bank in Rajbagh.
“We have started our venture at a time when unfortunately the tourism industry is passing through a very difficult phase because of the COVID Pandemic. However, we love challenges and we came up with the idea of a Multi Cuisine Restaurant cum Cafe serving quality food to our customers,” Shahji Shakil told Kashmir Despatch.
He said that their goal is to open various branches of their venture “Urban Griddle” at other district levels with a promise to provide nutritious and healthy food to the customers. “The food will be a lot different than what is being served in other restaurants these days. We have a diversified menu. Urban Griddle shall be serving a wide variety of cuisines like Continental, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Kashmiri, Arabian and Mediterranean at an affordable price,” he added.
The group also plans to open Urban Griddle branches at Baramulla, Anantnag and in other places of valley soon. “We are ourselves food loving people and always taste new food varieties at different outlets, and we love to enjoy delicious cuisines with your near and dear ones,” they said. “We decided it would be a great opportunity to provide great tasty healthy food options to our customers whom we regard as our guests more than customers.”
Shahji said that the Urban Griddle menu also includes salads, a variety of Pizzas, sandwiches, Burgers, mocktails, juices and smoothies. “Pizza, Burger, sandwich toppings are customizable, as well.”
“There’s big difference when you go somewhere and feel content about what you enjoyed to eat,” said Shahji Shakil, adding that taste and nutrition has always been a focus at their homes. “We pledge to apply the same yardstick at Urban Griddle also Urban Griddle isn’t going to support something we don’t consume for ourselves.”
Coronavirus has been around to impede planning and preparation for the opening of their venture, said Zakib Gull one of the founders of Urban Griddle.
“I think we signed our business papers four days after the authorities shut down all the restaurants,” he said.
Shakoor Sheikh, who also is the one the founder of the Urban Griddle said that he hopes the restaurant’s opening during the pandemic will work in their favor. “As people are now desperate to come out from homes and spend quality time with their near and dear ones but we shall make sure to follow all safety measures and hygiene SOPs issued by the government.”
He said that people still want to get out and eat and ‘it is a pretty safe model if you keep your costs and everything under control.” Sheikh said that so far very few people have chosen to dine at their restaurant. “Most of people prefer Takeaway and Home delivery, I think because of COVID-19 fear.”
