Kasim Khan didn’t mince words when asked why he closed down his Newport restaurant last week.
“Because my health is not very good and also business is not very good,” said Mr Khan who shut the doors at Kasim’s Indian Cafe on Mason Street for the final time on Tuesday, September 30 after 26 years in business.
“I have severe knee problems. My knee doesn’t allow me to stand for four or five hours and cooking is always standing,” said the 63 year old, who added that he’d been cooking for fewer and fewer customers.
“Sometimes on Friday or Saturday nights, only one or two customers.”
Born in India, Mr Khan emigrated to Australia in 1990 to work at the former Kohinoor Indian Restaurant in Williamstown.
Less than a decade later, in September 1999, he opened his own restaurant and for much of the next quarter of a century, Kasim’s was one of Hobsons Bay’s go to destinations for Indian cuisine.
But like many small businesses, the Covid 19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis that followed proved to be the beginning of the end.
“Everything got very expensive and people can’t afford it,” he said.
“I knew a few people who used to come and they said ‘I’m sorry you’re going, we’ll miss your food, but we can’t afford to come anymore’.”
Fortunately some of those regulars did return for Kasim’s final week.
While sad, Mr Khan said he was grateful to the local community for the last 26 years.
“Williamstown and Newport have supported me a lot. Thanks for everything. Thank you Australia.”
