The new Wagga Rashays is on track to open in August. Photo: Chris Roe.
Rashays is in the middle of a major expansion.
With more than 30 franchises across the country, the restaurant chain is in the process of taking that number to 50 with a push into the regions.
When Region Riverina submitted an enquiry about how the work was progressing on the new Baylis Street premises beneath our office, we were surprised to receive a video from founder Rami Ykmour and head of food and beverage Sammy Krayem.
Seated side by side in one of their Sydney restaurants the pair bounced off each other with an enthusiastic summary of what we can expect.
“We’re coming to Wagga Wagga and we’re really excited!” Sammy says before Rami jumps in with, “We’re excited! We’re excited to bring it to Wagga Wagga and all country towns.
“We pride ourselves on service, consistent food, which is very important, and we want to bring what the city or the CBD of Sydney has to offer. We want to bring that out to Wagga Wagga.”
Rashays founder Rami Ykmour and head of food and beverage Sammy Krayem. Photo: Supplied.
The family restaurant franchise has taken over the ground floor of the old Plaza Twin Cinema building on Baylis Street where Italian restaurants La Porchetta and Basil & Olive have previously operated.
Behind the bunting of the new Wagga store, painters and electricians are busy finalising their work.
The cavernous space has been opened out and a new kitchen and bar are being completed.
“We know there are some great restaurants out there and we just want to be an addition to those restaurants,” Rami says.
“Hopefully we’re going to give the customer a little bit more choice.”
Rami is a larger-than-life character and the face of the rapidly expanding restaurant franchise.
Instantly recognisable with his shaved head, long ruddy beard and toothy grin, Rami and his wife Shannon launched their first restaurant in Liverpool in Sydney’s west in 1998.
He explains that the brand is a complicated mash-up of their names.
“So we’ve got the R-A from Rami, S-H-A out of Shannon, the Y from Ykmour, which is my surname, and the S, she was formerly known as Smith before we got married,” he says.
“What a great Aussie story that is!” Sammy chimes in.
“That is a great Aussie story. You’re absolutely right Sammy!” Rami concludes with a smile.
With a host of new franchises opening in large regional centres like Albury, Dubbo and Queanbeyan, Rami explains why they selected Wagga for their first step outside the big cities.
“We’re looking for major towns, so we know there’s a hospital, we know it’s got a university, we know it’s got a population that goes out and dines,” he says.
Sammy adds that Rashays will “brighten up the whole of Wagga Wagga”.
“We’re gonna be a whole new trend in Wagga Wagga,” he says.
“We’re coming to get yas!”
Loading ...
