Harmandeep Aujla said he has been interested in having his own restaurant for years.
The opportunity for the Barrie resident came at the start of the pandemic, he said. After attending a franchising conference online, he said he was attracted to the breakfast and lunch chain Pür & Simple.
After months of preparation, Aujla achieved his career move and opened his first restaurant in Newmarket May 24 at 47 Harry Walker Pkwy S.
“It’s really good. We had a very good experience,” he said of opening day. “I was always thinking to move to a restaurant. I was looking for this for many years. This is the right time.“
The restaurant chain began in 2016 in Laval, Quebec, expanding with a franchising model. Newmarket is its 33rd location, and the franchise has plans to open a new store every month in Canada.
Aujla said he came to Canada from India as an international student, getting his degree as an automotive technician. He became a permanent resident and worked in trucking for approximately seven years, often visiting Newmarket.
“I had a very good experience from Newmarket. Some of my friends live here,” he said. “Newmarket people are really nice. So that’s why I chose this spot, and I live nearby. This is a perfect location for me.”
He said he always maintained an interest in restaurant ownership, and Pür & Simple appealed to him and treated him well. He said the hours were advantageous for his family, and he also has an opportunity to expand, with plans to open two more stores in Barrie alongside his wife.
“If we’re working hard for this business, we can build our empire,” he said. “This is a really interesting thing for us.”
Family and friends attended the store’s opening, along with regular customers. The Power family visited May 24 to support the ownership as friends.
“I’m really happy for them,” Charlea Power said. “I’m just really happy that I can come to see them and support them,”
“It’s just all over a very nice experience,” her grandmother, Patti Taylor, said. “We really wish them luck because they deserve it. They’re good, hard-working people.”
The store is located near the corner of Davis Drive and Highway 404, within the new retail plaza built by Rice Group, which has had several food establishments open in recent weeks. Aujla said they are excited about the prospect of a future Costco and other stores to come like Starbucks.
“Davis Drive is like the business street in Newmarket,” he said. “This will be a very busy location in the future, and that’s why I chose it.”
The restaurateur said he hopes to hire more locals as the business grows. He said that will also open a patio at the locale next week.
He said he has had a great experience with Pür & Simple, who have supported him well.
“This franchise is expanding so quickly. People love it,” he said. “This is a very good brand. That’s why I chose it.”
