|
|
 |
||||
|
Home Shoalhaven Industry Profile Shoalhaven Lifestyle Profile Companies SeaChange Entrepreneur Profiles SeaChange Young Professional Profiles |
|||||
|
Gabbys at Berry
The Katons arranged an inspection of the premises and fell in love with the design, ambience and attention to detail that made this building ageless and thus very special. It took just 45 minutes for them to shake hands on the deal not to just lease the business but to purchase the building plus all of the furniture and equipment. Then the rush was on to complete their dream home in Sydney already under construction, sell up and move. Richard’s parents Jack and Val Katon, who’d lived in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne during their working life, were settled at Nowra, their large family home being at Worrigee. With a very special relationship existing between the three generations, there was no hesitation in Richard, Carolyn and children Jack and Samantha taking up the invitation to “come and live with us.” Richard and Carolyn enrolled Jack at Nowra Christian School and Samantha at Berry Public School. With responsibility for the children accepted by the grandparents, Richard and Carolyn commuted between Sydney and the Shoalhaven for several months. What gave the Katons the strength of character and the confidence to make such a move came from their previous experience. Richard served his apprenticeship at Le Sands Restaurant at Brighton Le Sands then honed his skills at the Sheraton Wentworth in Sydney.
In their first business venture together they managed catering for three years at Kareela Golf Club. Then they opened their own business “Sombreros” a Mexican-style restaurant and steak house at Brighton Le Sands. “Sombreros” operated there for three years before being transferred to Cronulla Beach. After seven years at Cronulla Beach the Katons sold out and took up a catering contract with Westpac Bank. Throughout their 17 years of married life, Carolyn and Richard have worked together seven days a week – that special relationship now being evident in the way they have developed and are now running Gabbys at Berry. Gabbys was winning little business at the time the Katons arrived. Needing other income, Richard secured a job as a building labourer at Nowra during the time he and Carolyn prepared Gabbys for re-launching.
By any measurement they have been successful and very happy with their growth. “If you consider our SeaChange…we have definitely made the right decision for our future and our children’s future….and this is very much felt every time we drive back to Sydney….these trips confirm we have made the right move,” Richard and Carolyn explain. |
|||||
|
Copyright © 2002 Shoalhaven City Council - Last updated: Monday, 18 August 2008 |
|||||
Master
chef Richard Katon and his events manager wife Carolyn were on the verge
of a new catering venture in Sydney when a member of their family
noticed a sign in the window of Gabbys at Berry stating “business for
lease.”
Carolyn
was firstly a travel consultant then went into corporate events
management with Balmain Leagues Club.
From
a standing start the Katons catered for 42 events in 2007. With
functions already held this year and based on inquiries, a three-fold
growth is envisaged for 2008 – and already there are substantial
bookings for 2009.