Ready to deliver
While the coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly hit many Wimmera industries hard, a Horsham business owner is capitalising on circumstances created by lockdown measures to forge ahead with a new venture.
Stewart Neighbour, who owns Nourish’d Eatery in Roberts Avenue, will launch Big Boy Burger Co on Thursday next week.
Mr Neighbour said although the hospitality industry had been one of the hardest hit by government regulations to help stop the spread of COVID-19, it had forced business owners to rethink – and in some cases, reinvent – the way they operated. “A lot of businesses, particularly in hospitality, have worked hard to come out of the pandemic bigger and better,” he said.
The hospitality industry’s adaptation has in some ways created benefits for Wimmera consumers, with customers enjoying greater access to restaurant quality food from the comfort of their own homes.
Many Wimmera hotels, cafés and restaurants have adapted their services to include takeaway and delivery options, several are making the most of online ordering and others are using their forced closure as an opportunity to complete renovations.
Horsham’s Seers Smokehouse owners are also working on an expansion project and are planning to open a drive-through café and bakery in the old Red Rooster building on Dimboola Road.
Mr Neighbour, who has been a chef for almost 13 years, said his desire to grow his business portfolio had been in the pipeline for some time, however a spike in demand for quality homedelivered food encouraged him to strike while the iron was hot.
“Before I bought Nourish’d, starting a burger joint was a concept I was looking into,” he said.
“Horsham needed one, people were telling me that. But Nourish’d was too good an opportunity to pass up. I’d been working in high-end cafes and it was a comfortable move for me, coming back to Horsham after 10 years away.
“In my head, I didn’t think I’d start a burger joint for two years, but because of the current environment, it was time to reassess.
“At the end of the day, I need to survive and I need to find gaps in the market and work out what I can do to fill them.”
Mr Neighbour said a $10,000 government grant and early access to superannuation helped make his dream a reality.
“I’m sinking nearly every last cent I have into it, but I am very confident it will succeed,” he said.
“Big Boy Burger Co is something I created, but it is something I would look to franchise in the future.”
In its infancy, Big Boy Burger Co will be a delivery-only business.
Mr Neighbour plans to operate the new venture out of his Roberts Avenue premises.
“I am going to operate as a ‘dark kitchen’, which is the first time something like this has happened in Horsham,” he said.
“A dark kitchen is one that operates out of a regular kitchen, but is purely delivery only.”
“You see them a lot in Melbourne and other big cities. It reduces overheads and companies can partner with businesses such as Uber Eats or Deliveroo to distribute their products,” Mr Neighbour said.
By using his Nourish’d Eatery premises, Mr Neighbour has been able to get his second business up and running quickly.
He was quick to point out, however, the businesses would remain completely separate.
“I have spent a lot of money on extra benches, fridges and freezers to ensure two completely separate work stations,” he said.
“There will be no cross-contamination between the two.
“We will also have two different sets of staff who will work at different times, without overlapping.”
Mr Neighbour said he had hired between eight and 10 new staff across kitchen and delivery roles.
Big Boy Burger Co will operate between 4.30pm and 9.30pm from Thursday to Sunday.
Customers will be able to place orders via a company website or mobile phone app.
Mr Neighbour said he hoped to create a dine-in option within six to 12 months.
“I want to get it up and running smoothly first and this will give me time to plan,” he said.
“The feedback has been awesome. It has been stressful, but it’s also super exciting.”
Big Boy Burger Co is the next step in Mr Neighbour’s long-term vision for the region’s hospitality industry.
“I want this to be more than just a burger place,” he said.
“I want it to be a hub for youth – people in their late teens and early 20s – and families.
“I want to create somewhere that has a vibe – that is cool and has music and has a culture, that’s different from going to the pubs and getting messy or driving up and down the main street with a loud sub-woofer.”
Mr Neighbour said he hoped other businesses would follow suit and help him create a hub, similar to that of Little Malop Street in Geelong.
“It’s an awesome place with artwork on brick walls and a great vibe,” he said.
“There’s a wine bar, live music, a fried chicken joint and an ice creamery.
“They are all high quality and it is a destination, particularly for people who want a fun night out away from the clubs with good food and hospitality.
“I hope other businesses are willing to embrace this idea and I hope it helps bring the standard of hospitality up in Horsham.”
Mr Neighbour said he enjoyed the concept of businesses working together to create a complementary environment.
“I wish success for all businesses,” he said.
“I want them to do well. I want them to produce the best products that they can and strive to do better because it lifts the quality of the industry in Horsham.”