Family extends business at Vailoa

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 19 November 2017, 12:00AM

There is a new eatery in town. 

The C.C.M. restaurant, owned and operated by a family from Manono has opened in Vailoa just after the Lepea Bridge where the Asian Delights store was previously located.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the owner of the restaurant Leiataualesa Mulipola Oliva said he was not new to the world of business.

“This is the fourth business we have owned,” said Leiataualesa.

“We have an immigration and travel agency called Ensign Travel and Immigration Service which was established in 2003.

“Then we thought of how Samoan people love to eat so we established a shop in 2008 at Manono.

“In 2012, we established a headstone business called Ensign Memorials and Headstones.

“And about two years ago, we started a fast food business. It was just temporary catering, but we thought that it was time to expand our fast food business.

“We then started looking for a space to get established and in August this year, we found this space.

“So from that time, we have been working on the building. When we got here there was no kitchen so we started that from scratch.

“It cost us more than $17,000 to renovate the whole place.”

Leiataualesa said the aim is to expand the business and have more local food on the menu.

“We are looking ahead to cater at the Pacific Games in 2019 and for other opportunities because we also provide for weddings, birthdays and other occasions,” he said.

“Most especially because it’s close to the end of the year, there will be a lot of office parties so we are hoping to get opportunities to provide catering for those occasions.

“This is our first proper restaurant because the one we previously operated was from home.

“Our hope is to try it out and if it is successful then we will extend it and add more locations as well.”

C.C.M. Restaurant will be run by Leiataulesa’s wife, Ogevai.

“The name of the restaurant comes from the initials of our two boys Christopher and Collin Mulipola.

“The location is great as it is on the side of the road it’s easily accessed by the people.”

As to what makes his restaurant different from others in Samoa, Leiataulesa said it will be providing more local dishes.

“The restaurant is owned by Samoans so we want the menu to have Samoan food on it,” he said.

 “We are looking to add different Samoan food each week to the menu.

“There will eventually be oka, octopus, taro and all those Samoan dishes as part of the menu but as of next week, oka (raw fish) and beef soup will be on the menu.”

If you want find out more about this newly established restaurant contact Leiataualesa or Ogevai on 848-5342 or 7779352 and place an order.

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 19 November 2017, 12:00AM

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