When Pramod Jaisawal decided to buy the vacant Convenient Food Mart in Chester Township, he was not anticipating opening up a second business right next…
When Pramod Jaisawal decided to buy the vacant Convenient Food Mart in Chester Township, he was not anticipating opening up a second business right next door.
But all the pieces seemed to fall right into place at once and Jaisawal, known to many as “Kumar,” couldn’t pass the deal up.
As a result, Chester Township not only has a new Convenient Food Mart with an added drive-thru window, but also has an authentic Indian cuisine restaurant right next door in the old Guido’s pizza building on Chillicothe Road, just south of state Route 322.
“This area is nice peaceful and nice. I like this area very much,” Jaisawal said while sitting at a booth in the quaint and welcoming dining area of his new eatery — which he deemed Pari Authentic Indian?Cuisine after his daughter, Pari Jaisawal.
Jaisawal, who lives in Akron and owns a Convenient Food Mart there, had bought the Chester store around February from the same friend who sold him the Akron one.
“(The Chester Township store) was closed at the time and my friend asked if I could run the store,” he said, adding he jumped on the offer.
“In the meantime, Guido’s built a new building and moved there and there was a sign here to take a lease,” he said. “I said I will buy the Convenient if I can put a drive-thru in it.”
Jaisawal obtained all the necessary permits from the township and at the same time, met with the Guido’s owner.
He offered to lease the old restaurant space to Jaisawal and suggested he put an Indian restaurant there.
Jaisawal had worked at Saffron Patch in Akron for some time prior to owning the Convenient Food Mart in Akron, so he was familiar with the restaurant industry.
When asked why he thought Chester Township was an ideal location, Jaisawal said in addition to the area being peaceful and its people very receptive, it is also void of any authentic Indian food options.
“There is no competition here,” he said. “If you go in the west side, Parma, they have lots of Indian restaurants grocery stores. There is no Indian restaurant in this area. That area and this area are totally different. (Chester Township) is a fine option. And it is going very good. The soft opening, we are doing good.”
Other co-owners include Saidur Rahman, Karan Sunar and Prabesh Ramdam. The restaurant had its grand opening Friday morning, kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony, which the Chesterland Chamber of Commerce sponsored.
Pari is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days per week and offers authentic Indian cuisine ranging from appetizers such as paneer pakodas, shrimp malai and a vegetarian platter to tandoori specials served on a bed of peppers and onions, seafood options, curry, vegetarian options, Biryani (an Indian rice dish with golden raisins and mixed nuts), and naan.
The restaurant offers a variety of Indian desserts, extras and a kids menu as well as a $10.99
buffet option during lunch hours every day.
“We make everything fresh, every day. We start from mild and if they choose something hotter, we put more (heat),” Jaisawal said. “People are liking it. I’ve been getting good comments on Facebook.”
Jaisawal emphasized the fact everything in the restaurant is brand new, including the kitchen, appliances and a restroom he had built for customers.
“From the spoons to everything … is new,” he said.
Jaisawal will also be implementing technology that will take his restaurant beyond what most Indian restaurants are doing right now, he said.
In the near future, customers will be able to use a tablet (similar to an iPad), set at each table, to order their meals. Their orders will go right to the kitchen.
Pari already has a large, LCD screen in the store-front window that will display the menu and any specials every day.
Now the unexpected venture, and the many months and extra finances it took to complete, has come to fruition, Jaisawal said he can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“I feel relaxed,” he said with a laugh.
Pari is located at 12775 Chillicothe Road. For more information, call 440-688-3016, email parichesterland@gmail.com or visit online at www.indianfoodchesterland.com.
