New Freshie store announced for former Punjabi Nights lease
After six years a Freshwater institution has pulled up stumps to make way for an exciting new convenience store and take away food offering to replace the popular outgoing curry house.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After six years a Freshwater institution has pulled up stumps to make way for an exciting new convenience store and takeaway food offering.
Last Wednesday Punjabi Nights announced their final night of trade from the Kamerunga Rd outlet.
The business, owned by Deepak Kumar, has now relocated to Trinity Beach.
Now up and running next to the Le Crouton French patisserie is the Iyke's Mini Mart – a new venture for local owner Iyke Fredericks.
Manager of the new store Rebecca Proudlove said the new business would continue as a takeaway food and convenience store, but that’s where the similarities end.
“There have been some big changes,” she said.
“We are still up and running as a convenience store, we are going to have takeaway fish and chips and burgers, pies, sausage rolls and sandwiches.
“We are still going to have takeaway and we have expanded the convenience store to accommodate the locals.
“We are looking at all price points from the Black and Gold products and we have way more stock now than Punjabi Nights.
“You will be able to get reasonably priced school snacks, cereals, soft drinks, cordial, dips, ham salami, cheeses of all different kinds.
“We will have a lolly selection for the kids, a slushy machine and we are getting a coffee machine.”
An ATM machine will also soon return to the Kamerunga Rd business.
The new owner Mr Fredericks Ifeajika, a migration agent and an economist by profession, was excited about the very different kind of venture.
“We hope to meet the needs of locals in a one-stop shop for everyone,” he said.
“We will look after the locals and provide employment in the community.”
Growing up in Holloways Beach, Ms Proudlove said she had returned to the workforce to manage the new Iyke's Mini Mart which was focused on being a real local’s shop.
“I have been out of work for seven years and have four kids and now I have this great opportunity to make this successful,” she said.
“The new owners want this shop to be for the locals.”
Punjabi Nights will continue the relationship with Iyke's Mini Mart and have committed to supplying popular menu items to the new store.
More Coverage
Originally published as New Freshie store announced for former Punjabi Nights lease
Helicopter sent to man trapped in truck on PDR
A man remains trapped in the cab of a truck on a remote Cape York road after rolling his vehicle. The rescue chopper has just landed at the scene.
Stunning images and footage of major army exercise
Stunning images from a major army exercise offer an insider’s perspective on the large-scale training held this week at Cowley Beach in Queensland, where soldiers honed their skills in handling large volumes of fuel.