Vijeta dasa adhikary, posted April 3, 2009: We are looking for devotees who would like to help take our prasadam and preaching program to the next level. We are just beginning our third year running Jagannatha Express Vegetarian Bistro and Organic Juice Bar in Nelson B. C. Canada.
We are a family run business consisting of myself, Vijeta dasa and Arya Devi dasi, both initiated by Srila Prabhupada at the opening of the Krsna Balaram Temple in Vrndavan in 1975. We are assisted by our 2nd adult son Paramahamsa and our 2nd adult daughter Gita Govinda.
During the past 2 years we have been getting comments like this, written in our ‘comments’ book. “Just think – if more people ate this way our world would be a healthier place! This is an amazing restaurant! Thank you so very much!
Dr. Greg Morris & Dr. Natalie Carrington
Bragg Creek Alberta” From conception to functionality, we do things a little differently than some, or maybe most of the ‘Govinda’s style’ restaurants. We live in a small mountain town of only 10,000 people but we have been able to attract a lot of customers due to several key innovations. After we had been open for a year and a half we discovered that we are part of the fastest growing trend in dining experience called ‘Fast Casual’.
In the Wikipedia, ‘Fast Casual’ is defined as “… a type of restaurant that does not offer full table service but promises a higher quality of food and atmosphere than a fast food restaurant. In the USA it is a relatively new and growing concept to fill the space between fast food and casual dining. The typical cost per meal is in the US$8-$15 range.
Counter service accompanied by handmade food (often visible via an open kitchen) is typical. The menu is usually limited to an extended over-counter display, and options in the way the food is prepared are emphasized. Health-conscious items have a larger-than-normal portion of the menu. Some restaurants may emphasize high quality ingredients. Overall, the quality of the food is presented as much higher than conventional factory-made fast food. While full table service is not offered, conveniences like non-plastic utensils and plates are common.”
We were so shocked, and pleasantly surprised, to find out that Lord Jagannatha had guided us into developing a newer style of prasadam restaurant just when much of the restaurant industry was doing the same thing. Even though the term ‘fast casual’ was coined in the late 90’s, it’s almost identical to the concept of the original ‘Healthy, Wealthy and Wise’ (now Govinda’s) prasadam restaurant opened by London devotees in the late 70’s. We were fortunate to be there at the time and able to assist in some small way….. heck, that’s where I learned what a ‘swill bucket’ was!
We cater to the rapidly growing population of health conscious patrons, especially vegans. Almost everything we serve is ‘wheat free’ and ‘dairy free’, as well as organic (as much as possible). We do however make our own organic whole wheat flatbreads for our now famous Bhima Wraps. We use no microwaves or aluminum cookware, we use no Canola oil or GMO products, and Gita Govinda uses only organic flours and organic Cane Sugar in all our baked goods, which are all vegan. Paramahamsa makes a variety of organic flatbreads (just came out with a new one yesterday…’Turmeric and Basil’) and our Organic Spelt Crust pizzas, specializing in his now famous Vegan Pizza featuring his unique ‘cashew spread’ instead of cheese, toped with such exotic veggies as sauteed asparagus, local organic tofu, and spiced spinach.
“Thanks for being the great restaurant that you are…excellent service and fabulous food. Thank you all for helping me stay healthy.
Michall Corlen”
We designed our prasadam presentation along the same lines as a ‘Subway’ franchise, in that the patrons start at one end of the “J” shaped counter by choosing a flatbread, and then proceed along the steam tables (protected by custom sneeze guards) and choose from the two different grains, kofta, two different subjis, four chutneys, organic raw foods, seeds, and more of Paramahansa’s creations…the sauces, like Cashew ginger honey, Spicy pumpkin, Italian, or simply wheat free Tamari or Organic Hemp seed oil.
“Could it be any better? I feel so grateful for the ambience, the generosity, the kindness, the music and the incredible food. Your intention is felt on many deep levels. Thank-you, thank-you, thanks to you.
Karina”
We all work about 10 to 12 hours per day, so unfortunately we only have enough energy to open 5 days a week from Tuesdays to Saturdays 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Mondays are spent banking, cleaning, repairing, bookkeeping, etc. etc. Therefore we have the following expansionist ideas and desires.
EXTENDED HOURS & 7 DAYS A WEEK
There is great potential here for opening earlier and closing later, to facilitate the breakfast crowd and to extend our dinner hours. Also there are very few restaurants open on a Sunday, even during the summer months and we would be able to fulfill that great need, especially during the tourist seasons.
ORGANIC BREADS AND BUNS
We have a German Wiesheu commercial convection steam oven that we have not installed yet. We would love to get this up and running and use it for baking organic breads for retail and wholesale. The kitchen could be used at night for a host of commercial baking needs and thus provide an additional revenue stream.
“Hi, I’m 13 and like my junk food, but the food here is so good. Especially the so so healthy pizza every day I come there is a new type. I love it.”
CATERING SERVICE
We have had requests for catering and we have accepted some special ones. For example, a local Cardiologists lectures to other doctors attending from out of the area and he only wishes to distribute Jagannatha prasad to the attendees. We have catered this event twice now, but we only do ‘take-out’ catering, However when we have more staff, we could greatly expand this service to include ‘full service’ catering. We would also like to introduce online ordering and office delivery service for busy office workers and small business owners who just can’t get away from work.
EXPAND CHUTNEYS TO RETAIL and WHOLESALE
Arya has been making traditional chutneys which many of our customers would like to purchase by the jar. At the moment, we can only make enough to provide our daily 100 to 150 customers with a sample choice of 4 or 5 chutneys to enjoy with their meals. This is another opportunity for expansion; increased production for retail sale.
EXPAND FLATBREADS TO RETAIL and WHOLESALE
Our daily flatbread production is now limited to 40 to 45 twelve inch organic whole wheat flatbreads that we use for our Bhima wraps. Many customers have asked to buy these in packages of 6 to take home, but we just don’t have the time to make any more. However, we would like to have a ‘chapati chef’ making flatbreads all night long with our new pizza/flatbread rolling machine.
SUNDAY PROGRAM
Even if we extended our days of operation to include Sundays, we would consider closing by 5PM in order to re-arrange the tables and chairs to facilitate a ‘Sunday Program’ much like we have done on previous Sundays, until we can arrange a more suitable preaching venue. Our existing humble arrangement can be seen at www.jagannathaexpress.com/kirtans.html F.O.I.
The Festival of India will be coming to Nelson on August 15, 16 2009. This is the first time we have hosted Madhuha Prabhu and the F.O.I. and we are all very excited. You can help by sending a donation to F.O.I for the first ever ‘Nelson B.C. festival’. The event will be held at the beautiful Lakeside Park here in Nelson and we are hoping that devotees will take the opportunity to visit this great town. You can see the park at www.city.nelson.bc.ca/html/parks.html
RECREATE 10 SOHO ST. One of the most successful preaching centers we have ever had the privilege of serving in is at 10 Soho Street in London England, the Sri Sri Radha London Isvara Temple and Govinda’s Restaurant. This is just such a great facility with the restaurant at street level, the temple on the second floor, and then two more floors of ashrams above. Here in Nelson, we would like to recreate a similar preaching facility, and we have our eye on this (photo) wonderful three story heritage building, that would be perfect. It is not yet for sale but Lord Jagannatha can do anything. Our Nelson Heritage buildings can be seen at http://kootenay-lake.ca/lakeside/Nelson/heritage/ and the one we are interested in is the one after (or below) the CIBC Bank Building. In the photo it’s called ‘Lawrence’s Hardware Store’ at 446 Baker street and was the first 3 story building in town, built in 1897, the year after Srila Prabhupada’s birth. The lease on our current location at 660 Baker street runs for another 3 years. By that time we would like to have this ‘Lawrence Hardware’ building renovated like the London Temple to include Jagannatha Express at street level, ashrams on the second level and a temple room on the top floor complete with the ‘arched windows’ in the pujari room directly behind the alter, opening skylights, roof gardens and greenhouse, with offices, administration and a conference room in the basement level.
FRANCHISE
During the next 3 years we also plan to examine more closely the ‘franchisability’ of Jagannatha Express, with the idea to expand this ‘fast casual’ healthy dinning experience across Canada and the USA. Our desire is to help devotees get one ‘up-and-running’ so that more and more Krsna prasadam can be distributed.
These are some of the plans in store for our Nelson B.C. area and of course we need your help to make it happen. If you are an adventurous, entrepreneurial, dedicated Prabhupada person, then please email or phone us.
The successful devotee associates will have the following qualifications, experience and mind set:
1) Hands on investor. The most desirable associate will be a ‘hands on’ investor couple, with or without children. We need to find another devotee couple who is as crazy about prasadam distribution as we are. Maybe someone who wants to start their own restaurant, but doesn’t know how or where. Maybe someone whose children are grown up like ours and would like to be involved. Or maybe a devotee couple who would like to be part of a prasadam and preaching program in the beautiful Kootenay Lakes region of Southern British Columbia, a short 4 hour drive straight north from Spokane Washington. The associate couple will have the ability to invest ‘equity capital’ up to a 49% ownership in all aspects of the retail, wholesale and catering businesses developed here in Nelson. They will also enthusiastically bring energy and style to the hands on, day-to-day operation of Jagannatha Express.
2) Must be ‘on the same page’ as our family. This is the foremost important ingredient for a successful working relationship. We are dedicated followers of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and only listen to his lectures in the mornings…no exceptions. We only use and distribute Srila Prabhupada’s original books, his pre-1978 editions and no B.B.T. ‘improved’ editions. We have no interest in anyone else’s philosophy or style other than Srila Prabhupada’s, and any preaching programs will adhere to his philosophy and standards. If you are dedicated Srila Prabhupada followers, either initiated or not, and have the same values as our family, then we should talk.
3) Any previous experience working, managing, or owning a prasadam restaurant would of course be advantageous but not necessarily a pre-requisite requirement. The ability to execute one’s own role in the smooth operation of the restaurant, but to be able to recognize the need to ‘jump in’ and assist in any area needing attention at any time, will be a definite asset.
4) Website development and supervision will also be a very valuable asset, as you can tell from our rudimentary and now slightly outdated website www.jagannathaexpress.com . So if that is your area of expertise, we would love to work closely with you on that critical feature of our business expansion ideas.
“I left a better man than when I arrived. Many thanks.
Daniel”
In conclusion, we would just like to say thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy ‘infomercial’ and we look forward to communicating with any and all interested devotees. Our phone number is 1 (country code) 250 (area code) 354-1084 at Jagannatha Express (but please only between 3PM to 5PM Pacific standard time) or home number 1 250 352-0688. Our email address is aryaandvijeta@yahoo.com
Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladev Subhadra Ki Jai
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai
Humbly yours in the attempted service of Srila Prabhupada,
Vijeta dasa adhikary
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