New owners for Breakers
One of Palmerston North’s busiest restaurants has changed hands for the first time in more than a decade – but will remain a family affair.
Damon Burt – son of Breakers founders Mark and Penny Burt – has sold the franchise to longtime head chef Sonny Ratima, his wife Helen, and their daughters Georgia and Tori.
Tori Ratima’s husband, Sunwolves Super Rugby player and former Manawatu¯ Turbos star Jason Emery, is also a partner in the venture.
Sonny Ratima had been head chef at the Rangitı¯kei St restaurant for the past nine years, while Georgia, 25, had been working alongside her father in the kitchen for most of that time.
Tori Ratima, 26, was duty manager for several years.
She flew over from Japan for the official handover last week. Her husband, a member of the 2012 New Zealand under-20 world championship-winning team and Ma¯ ori All Blacks representative, has just finished his second season with the Tokyo-based Sunwolves.
Emery, a product of Palmerston North Boys High School, left for Japan in 2018 on a three-year
‘‘For Jason and I, Palmy is definitely home.’’ Tori Ratima
deal after notching more than 50 games for the Turbos and 35 Super Rugby appearances for the Highlanders.
But with the Sunwolves departing the competition at the end of next season, Tori Ratima said the couple were looking to the future.
‘‘For Jason and I, Palmy is definitely home,’’ she said.
‘‘Jason’s still young with plenty of years in the game, but you have to start preparing for life after rugby at some stage.’’
Burt said the family had gone into the business together as equal partners.
‘‘The last week of the recent July school holidays was our second biggest ever week in terms of turnover – so we wouldn’t have sold it to just anyone,’’ the departing owner said.
‘‘But the whole family has a strong connection to the business and know the Breakers brand.’’
Burt and his wife Christine want to spend more time with their two daughters and they will focus on their other hospitality business, Rosie O’grady’s Irish Pub on Fitzherbert Ave.
Sonny Ratima assured patrons little would change at the restaurant, although it would be shut for a few days to refresh the interior.
It would continue to sponsor the Red Sox Manawatu¯ Sports Club and the Manawatu¯ Jets.