Ivan and Monique Sayad open Butter Bodega convenience store in Labrador
A unique convenience store that recently opened on the northern Gold Coast has become TikTok famous for its New York-style sandwiches and iced lattes.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A unique convenience store that recently opened on the northern Gold Coast has become TikTok famous for its New York-style sandwiches and iced lattes.
Husband and wife duo Ivan and Monique Sayad unveiled their first venture, Butter Bodega, in Labrador in December.
The speciality convenience store was an instant hit on social media with more than 150,000 TikTokers falling in love with its biscoff caramel iced lattes.
Mr Sayad said his family had been in the convenience market sector for the past 40 years and it was time to modernise.
“Mon and I had always talked about wanting to create a new and modern take on the convenience store, taking away concepts from the New York bodega-style shops and incorporating European flavours and styles of sandwiches,” he said.
Mr Sayad said that became the inspiration for many of the store’s most-ordered items, including a black-squid-ink truffle salami sandwich; smoked mortadella sandwich; biscoff caramel iced lattes; popcorn caramel iced lattes; and cherry vanilla ice lattes.
“Mon came up with the sandwich menus which have been an absolute hit after countless hours of trialling different meats, cuts and combinations in the lead up to the opening,” Mr Sayad said.
“She has also been the brains behind the specialist iced drinks along with our amazing team of staff.
“The food menu is simple, yet on point and I think that's what is overlooked with many places these days.”
Mr Sayad said they chose to open their first shop in Labrador after spotting a “gap in the market”.
“We thought that the area spanning between Main Beach and Paradise Point was really missing a high-end takeaway store and leapt at the opportunity to fill the gap,” he said.
“We think this area will see significant growth in the coming years and that’s been evident by our amazing start to trading.”
Mr Sayad said they planned to open another four stores on the Gold Coast and already had their next location in mind.
“Each of the stores will keep the core style of grocer, coffee and sandwiches,” he said.
“The next of our stores will be larger in size and incorporate more grocery options, including a wider range of fine foods, deli meats and niche items.”
Mr Sayad said the couple eventually hoped to expand their empire to metropolitan Sydney.
More Coverage
Originally published as Ivan and Monique Sayad open Butter Bodega convenience store in Labrador
Join the conversation
Work stops as veteran builder goes into administration
A long-running major builder with 40 staff and projects across South-East Queensland is facing insolvency, with voluntary administrators appointed to save it from collapse. Here’s what we know.
Read more
Mayhem on swanky street as P-plater hits parked vehicles
A 22-year-old P-plater was taken into custody after smashing into vehicles parked on affluent Tedder Ave, one of multiple serious crashes on the Gold Coast. Read the full details.
Read more