RX: When and why did you start your business?
BR: In the 80’s, over 20 years now I’ve been in
the Pattie business. In Jamaica I was inspired
by Patties so I decided to give it a try and
started the business. I love patties, so I make it
with lots of love.
RX: Some of the challenges you have faced?
BR: Workers and material problems; sometimes
some of the suppliers don’t have the material
we need and then we have to go all over the
place to find the material. With the workers
some of them don’t have any experience and
we have to train them and retrain them and
when we train them sometimes they leave
cause it’s kind of a hard job.
RX: Future plans for the business?
BR: After all these years the plans got easier
because I’ve tried many other stores in the past
but it didn’t work out because most of our
people don’t give support to black businesses in
our community. So the plan was to try open
about four more stores, but I eased off of that,
so I am thinking about the future right plan now.
RX: How many stores currently and location?
BR: I used to have a couple in Brampton and in
Downsview, but only one in Rexdale area right
now. Maybe I will give it a try to open more
locations in the future if I get the right partner to
do so this time around.
UP CLOSE WITH BIG ROB
CEO OF PATTIE WORLD
RX: Name and business?
BR: Linford Robinson aka Big Rob of Pattie
World located at 86 Guided Court, Toronto ON.
RX: Some of the foods you offer?
BR: We offer all kinds of Pattie; beef, chicken,
vegetable, callaloo and saltfish, ackee and
salthfish, shrimp, jerk chicken, cheese, curry
goat; and the food we offer is regular oxtail, fish,
curry goat, cow foot, stew peas, ackee and
saltfish, and other typical Jamaican food. For
sweets we offer Peanut drops, gizzada, and
more.
RX: Why should people come to Pattie World to
buy your food and patties?
BR: Lots of diversity, the service, the hospitality,
and lots of giveaways. Once you come for the
first time, I may give you a free Pattie or soup,
just to welcome you, I am known for that. And of
course, we have the best Pattie in town and the
sweetest Jamaican cuisine.
RX:
Any advice to young business
entrepreneurs?
BR: Make sure you start loving what you do, if
you don’t, down the road you will break and you
can’t break, you have to stay the course. The
big chicken and hamburger business guys
stayed their course and succeeded in the end.
If you fall down, get up and try again until you
succeed. Love your business and have a
passion for it and you will stay strong.
RX: Something about Rob that we don’t know.
BR: Big Rob is a gentle humble man who
respects everyone. Some think I am big and
scary but no, I am very humble and respectful. I
am also a producer. I produced songs with Ken
Boothe, John Holt, Delroy Wilson, George
Nooks, Alton Ellis, Stranjah Cole and more. I am
also an artiste; I even sang a few songs with
Ken Boothe and worked with Freddie McKay,
Tony Tuff, Bonnie Brown from the Chosen Few
and Prince Everald.
RX: Any big ups or shout-outs?
BR: Big up to everyone, thanks to all who
support Pattie World and blessings to all
especially my Mother, Ground Force and Uncle
Willie who deh bout long time from day one, and
all the crew that work at Pattie World, big up to
all the ones and ones and ones.
RX: Give thanks Big Rob, continued success in
your business ventures.
reggaeXclusive -- Web Site: www.reggaexclusive.com --- Phone: 416-519-0831 -- Email: [email protected] Pg - 11