Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Pitcher.
Hi Melanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Melbourne FL from Barbados three years ago with my two kids Darian 19 and Kelsey, 16. I owned a surf camp and surf travel company in Barbados for 23 years. I was wondering what I could do in Florida as I didn’t want to keep running the business in Barbados if I wasn’t living there.
In October of 2019, the kids and I went surfing in California for ten days and an idea was birthed! There were Poké Bowl restaurants everywhere. I said we need that in Melbourne! I just didn’t know how I would do it, where I would do it, as of course, the location had to be great. I put the idea on the back burner. Then in January of 2020, my stepdad sent me a link to a beachside cafe for sale. I still didn’t know how I would be able to do it but I still went and looked and researched if it was feasible. Everything fell into place and Mel’s Tiki Cafe opened on March 10, 2020. After about seven opening days, Covid happened and we had to come and only do ToGo. It’s been a struggle but I’m happy to say we are still open and approaching our one-year anniversary.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road because of Covid and just being open seven days before having to close. I had to let go of staff and work by myself for the rest of March and April. Slowly but surely, I’ve hired staff again and the business is starting to grow more and more.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Tiki Cafe is a woman-owned sole member LLC. We are known for our warm, welcoming atmosphere and amazingly fresh food, we offer breakfast all day and Poké Bowls. We have many create your own options were you can customize your own breakfast bowls, Poke Bowls and Salads.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am definitely a risk-taker! I tend to just go for it! I get ideas and just know they will work. My first big risk that I took was moving to Barbados when I was 22 and opening a surf camp at Barbados’ world-famous surf break, ‘Soup Bowl’. I just knew it would be good. I tend to ‘see’ success I don’t ‘see’ the failure. It’s not an option. It was the same when I visited the cafe for sale. I had a vision for the place and I walked in it with positivity. It’s hard and I have my doubtful hard days but I keep moving towards the vision.
Contact Info:
- Email: Melstikicafe@gmail.com
- Website: Melstikicafe.com
- Facebook: Facebook.com/melstikicafe
