Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing the owner of Bua Thai Sushi Restaurant, Lek Cameron. When she hired me to photography her five year Anniversary Brunch in Malta, NY., I asked if she would agree to share her insights on how she became an entrepreneur.
MFP: As the owner of Bua Thai Sushi Restaurant, how did the idea for your business come about?
LC: I always wanted to own a restaurant because I enjoy Thai cooking and I like to tell about Thai food. Also, I like to talk to people. I knew that there were no Thai restaurants in Malta, NY, so I opened the restaurant in Ellsworth Commons.
MFP: How did you know you had the right idea to open a restaurant?
LC: I love to cook and I wanted to share my authentic Thai food. Also, I like to share my culture with the people that come to my restaurant.
“The work days are long.”
MFP: How many hours a day do you work on average?
LC: I work 12 hours a day and 6 days a week. I get to work at 10:00am to get all the food ready in the kitchen. We open at 11:30am and we close at 9:00pm. Before we leave, we have to make sure all the food is put away, the kitchen is clean, and we are ready for the next day.
MFP: Can you describe your typical day?
LC: First we get here at 10:00am to get all the food ready in the kitchen. All of my food has to be fresh. I use fresh herbs and I even grow lemongrass. Lunchtime is our busy time, so we start early to be ready for our customers.
Sometimes I am working in the front with my customers. Or I help with take out. If I am missing something, I go to the store. Other times I am in the kitchen. I always make sure the food looks good before it is served to my customers. My team are hard workers and I appreciate them.
“I have a supportive family.”
MFP: How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
LC: It does not affect my family life in any way. They enjoy what I am doing. They support me and my business. I spend time with my boyfriend and my son on Sundays. We have family dinners and relax.
MFP: How did you come up with the name for your restaurant?
“Bua” is the lotus flower. “Thai” is for the Thai Buddha. My culture is very important to me and I thought it would be a good name for a restaurant.
MFP: What motivates you?
LC: What motivates me is when I know that my customers enjoy my food. I love being around people and I like that some of them are now my friends.
” I can give college graduates ideas for starting a business.”
MFP: What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs?
LC: First, I would say to the college graduates that they have to the check location. My location is good because it was the first Thai Sushi restaurant in Ellsworth Commons. Then, I would meet with the graduates and tell them what I did. Last, I can give them ideas for what they can do next. And if they need help, I can talk to them.
MFP: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
LC: I wouldn’t change anything. I made the right choice to open this business and serve this community.
MFP: What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
LC: It is important to serve the best food to my customers. I always make sure that a dish looks perfect before it is brought out to them. Also, I like to talk to people and to share my culture.
MFP: If you had a magic wand, what would you change in the world?
LC: I want the whole world to be better. They should be friendly and love each other. All people should learn to be nice to each other now during Coronavirus.
Final Thoughts
On an average day, Bua Thai Sushi would be bustling serving their authentic Thai and sushi cuisine. This pandemic, has changed the face of this small business. When this is over, may Lek’s restaurant recover and continue to thrive in this community.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a small business? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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