Cafe on Erin owners expand business into Thai restaurant

A Macarthur business rocked by the pandemic has come up with a smart move to ensure it keeps operating during lockdowns and isolation periods.

A savvy couple has come up with a savvy business model to survive the lasting effects of the pandemic.

Sharef Read and Amanda Poolcharoen bought their Campbelltown business just three weeks before the state went into the second lockdown in 2021 but they found a way to expand what they do.

Mr Read grew up in Campbelltown and had moved away, but he and his partner Ms Poolcharoen decided to move back to the area a couple of years ago to raise their family.

The Laughing Thaiger restaurant has opened in Campbelltown.

The couple soon made the decision to take over the business Cafe on Erin which is located in the industrial precinct of Campbelltown.

“We took over and then just three weeks later we went into the second Covid lockdown,” Mr Read said.

“We ran it for six months to see how it would go, but we really struggled so we knew that we needed to find a way to use the space more.”

Ms Poolcharoen had grown up in Thailand, and missed the cuisine from her country so the couple decided to bring a taste of home to Thailand.

They employed Kitti Jansaent, fondly known as Chef Joe, who has more than three decades of experience in cooking after travelling all over the world.

“We decided that from 1pm the cafe would turn into a Thai restaurant and that way we could expand our business,” Mr Read said.

“It meant that we could use the kitchen for a linger time to help reduce overall rent and bills.”

“I am so excited to be able to share the authentic taste from my homeland with Campbelltown,” Ms Poolcharoen added.

The Laughing Thaiger creates delicious Thai meals.

The Laughing Thaiger is a cafe by day, thai restaurant by night.

Being based out of the industrial precinct means the Laughing Thaiger restaurant does not get the foot traffic other businesses might benefit from.

But, Mr Read said there were a couple of key ways to overcome such a challenge.

“Social media is really helpful, you have to put what you do out there so people find out,” he said.

“We also use UberEats and Menulog as platforms to help advertise and get new customers.

“We have also even gone old-school by doing pamphlet drops, so it’s just about spreading the news.”