Harsha recently completed his Bachelor’s and Ashish is doing his second semester of Masters at the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management. These two students of hospitality and around a dozen films-old actor Mukesh Acharya came up with the idea to start the restaurant which takes its name from the location itself.[break]
“Café 32 is a catchy name and it denotes the area it is situated in,” says Mukesh, explaining what the five month-old restaurant is named after.
The trio renovated the space and fixed the interior that is a careful juxtaposition of rough metal furniture and comfortable leather couches. Ashish, whose previous ventures include Majestic Restro Lounge in Jhochhen and Ingenious Squad Event and Entertainment, said, “Our tentative design was launching this place as a coffee place.
Photos: Bijay Gajmer/Republica
During my time outside the country as a hospitality intern, I learnt a lot about the caffeine trends and upon seeing the business of places like Café Kaldi and Himalayan Java here, we wanted to create a place that’s close for residents of this area and people living nearby.”
Mukesh, who grew up in Battis Putali, says they saw scope of restaurants in the area as most of the exclusive eateries are in Durbar Marg, Lazimpat and Thamel.
“We want to serve people in their own locality,” adds Harsha, hopeful about other branches of Café 32 in the future.
The restaurant will soon start happy hours for college students and corporate menu for corporate office employees.
When asked if they would follow suit like many Nepali youngsters for jobs in foreign lands, Ashish said, “I can’t say what’ll happen in the future, it’s all a matter of the sustainability of this venture. But then again, every business has its risks. It’s all about learning to tackle, come what may.”
Photos: Bijay Gajmer/Republica
Harsha would like some outer exposure of this multi-dimension field and can hopefully implement whatever he learns back home.
Mukesh fears that once he leaves things here, he’ll have to start from scratch after getting back and he would rather continue things here as they are.
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