CAPE TOWN: One little girl was so overwhelmed when she visited a new Auckland family restaurant, she burst into tears. South African flame-grilled meat chain Spur has only been open in Albany for two weeks and already is drawing queues. In its first week, the restaurant welcomed patrons in the thousands according to operations manager and co-owner for White Cloud Spur Jaco Jordaan. Jordaan says after a family and friends opening on October 23, they were full from the very next day. “On Monday [the first day of trading] word had spread and social media went ‘boom’ – the guys had taken photos and were posting them on Facebook on Sunday,” Jordaan says.
“Monday, twelve o’clock, we opened the doors and we ran a queue. We hadn’t advertised – nothing. And it hasn’t stopped since.” Deputy managing director for Spur Corporation and fellow co-owner Mark Farrelly says there’s even been queues of 60 to 80 people – on one occasion stretching up to the road – a reaction he says he didn’t expect. “I knew people would want to come here, but I’m blown away. And incredibly appreciative,” he says. Both hailing from Cape Town, Farrelly and Jordaan began setting up White Cloud Spur around nine months ago, after Farrelly had the idea to open a kiwi branch after multiple trips down under to visit family.
