'Like giving oxygen': Long-running restaurant rises from ashes of CBD blaze

A central Auckland business owner has reopened his Hobson St restaurant three months after it was shuttered over a kitchen fire, bucking the trend of recent closures amid a “tough time” for hospitality in the city.

Raviz Indian Eatery was forced to shut earlier this year after fire crews were called to a fierce blaze in the premises early on March 6.

The block of shops, on the corner of Hobson and Victoria St West, houses several other stores and restaurants, including a 24-hour Denny’s and Daikoku convenience store.

With no one in the restaurant when the fire broke out, and damage mostly limited to the kitchen, owner Ravraj Singh initially hoped insurance would quickly assess the damage and allow them to get the business back open as soon as possible.

Recounting the “very traumatic” day, Singh said he faced numerous setbacks over following weeks.

“It’s just like, you’ve given up and everything’s shattered.

Raviz Indian Eatery in Auckland's CBD has reopened after a fire burnt through the premises in early March. Photo / Dean Purcell

“It’s very hard to manage your family when you know that’s your only livelihood, right?”

Given smoke damage had marred other spaces, including the dining room and bar, the hope for a quick reopening was short-lived.

Singh said the building was insured by the body corporate, meaning kitchen repairs were covered, but as the business insurance had lapsed, the rest was left to him.

Repair work also stalled in the first 60 days, further burdening Singh while he worked to find alternative income to maintain his business and support his family.

“We took loans, took money from my siblings, parents ... they all contributed bit by bit,” he said.

“[My brother] came to know that this thing happened. And he called me and said, ‘You should be telling us, we are family’.

Owner Ravraj Singh covered most shopfitting costs himself through savings, selling valuables and help from family. Photo / Dean Purcell

“I’ve lived here 30 years. We have good relations, but I don’t have that ability to go and say, ‘Hey, give me $50,000’.”

With his brother undeterred, Singh said receiving the first payment was “like giving oxygen” to the business.

“I started hiring my own shopfitters ... same time, the body corporate insurance assigned builders and they started measuring and all this stuff.

“So they started the kitchen work at the same time that we started.”

For Singh, “there was no other option” than to reopen the restaurant, which he’d worked in – and subsequently took ownership of from his uncle – throughout his time in New Zealand.

“I never did any jobs ... I was always engaged with the business.”

Singh reopened his revamped restaurant at the start of last week. Photo / Dean Purcell

Singh and his wife tried to cut renovation costs where possible by taking on jobs themselves, like painting the bathroom, ceiling and walls.

“Whatever we could do, we did it, me and my wife,” he said.

“We would come here at 10am and go by midnight.”

Another constant worry was how he’d be able to retain the restaurant’s eight employees through the closure.

“Four have left, and two, I’ve just kept myself. When I used to come here, they used to come, they’d help me out [with shopfitting].

“I have to keep paying them, because they have rent to pay.”

The fire broke out in Raviz Indian Eatery, situated in a block of shops on the corner of Hobson St and Victoria St West. Photo / Anna Heath

Singh said he did little things to bolster his savings, such as selling old shares and prized gifts.

“Everything we did, that was to survive and to keep afloat.

“We didn’t want to go and say to people, ‘Hey, we’re just broke and we don’t have anything’.”

He also gave his suppliers and Genesis Energy a “hats off” for suspending bill payments until the restaurant could reopen, with Singh now able to clear them.

During last week’s reopening, Singh spoke of a special moment when a local church group came in to dine.

After learning about the fire, the leader told Singh they wanted to sing him a prayer.

“They came to know these things happened. I didn’t say it to them,” he said.

“I said thank you very much. For me, it’s one of those things, it’s nostalgia, how the community comes and helps you ... that’s New Zealand. This was a real example.”

Loyal regulars have begun to catch wind of the reopening too, with a group of office workers’ usual weekly lunch enduring despite the fire when the Herald came to visit.

“I miss a few customers,” Singh said.

“It’s not about them spending $30 a night or whatever, you know, it’s about the relationships.”

Singh said the last 100 days had “taught me a lot”, adding the time had felt closer to one year.

“Lots of people come and say, ‘It’s great to see you guys back again’,” he said.

“Everyone was thinking that because hospitality is struggling so bad, even [some of] the great restaurants ... aren’t able to manage this tough time.

“We just want to make people aware that we are back, and thank those who have supported us or started supporting us again.

“We want support as much as possible. Because number one, the city is really tough now.”

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

The blaze caused extensive damage to Raviz Indian Eatery's kitchen, but fire crews stopped it before it could spread to the front of house and neighbouring businesses. Photo / Anna Heath

The fire broke out in Raviz Indian Eatery, situated in a block of shops on the corner of Hobson St and Victoria St West. Photo / Anna Heath