The new owner of a Newmarket pizzeria plans to continue the legacy of Palace Pizza and Spaghetti House as he takes over from the original owners after 50 years in business.
Bhavish Bhavish, 24, has acquired the longtime business at 727 Davis Dr. The restaurant has been in the community since 1974 and has become a well-known establishment over the years with the owners building a list of loyal customers.
“We want to keep the legacy moving forward,” said Bhavish Bhavish. “We would like to see another 50 years and more locations.”
The original owners of the restaurant decided to retire recently and sell their business to a young entrepreneur looking to forge his own path. While the menu will remain mostly the same, Bhavish will add more items to offer more options.
“It’s big shoes to fill,” said Bhavish. “It has been running for the past 50 years. I am very overwhelmed with the customers who are loyal to the company. I hope they stay loyal. We’re keeping the same recipes.”
Bhavish has been working at a pizza restaurant in Barrie for five years, moving his way up to manager. He learned the ins and outs of running a restaurant and sought an opportunity outside the city to grow.
“I have a cousin who's a realtor,” said Bhavish. “I contacted him to see if there’s any restaurants I could buy. I heard of the opportunity of Palace Pizza and Spaghetti House in Newmarket. We got in touch with the previous owner, had a couple of meetings with them, and went through the process.”
He has a partner, Rishav Singh, who co-owns the restaurant. Bhavish initially wanted to own it by himself but sought support from Singh to develop a plan.
From an early age, Bhavish was interested in operating his own business. His mother in India runs her own school learning how to administrate a company.
“When I came to Canada, I had one thing on my mind,” said Bhavish. “I wanted to do something of my own. I don’t want to work for someone else and have whole freedom. I wanted to do something great for myself and be my own boss.”
His sister lives in New Brunswick at the moment. Bhavish plans to help her move to the area.
The restaurant is closed every Sunday to complete renovations inside the building, such as light fixtures, preparation stations, posters, and wall designs. He enjoys the Newmarket area and plans to move to the community.
