We had an opportunity to meet up with a young entrepreneur Maria Johnson who is a co-owner of El Vivo’s and her Principal Pizza Chef, Donald Relebohile Thapeli. Relebohile is originally from Lesotho. It is one of the best restaurants in Bloemfontein, Free State. This is how they told their success story for the past years working together.
Briefly, tell us about yourselves…
Maria Johnson (29) was born and raised in Bloemfontein. After completing her grade 12 she moved to Pretoria to study BCom (Financial Management) at the University of Pretoria, after a couple of years she returned to Bloemfontein to do her MBA at the University of the Free State. Later after completing her MBA she decided to go to Europe to stay with her grandmother for a couple of years.
“Life in Europe is very different to South Africa, the culture, and its food, almost everything. I loved staying there and I am thinking of going back there again very soon.” She said.
Donald Relebohile Thapeli (30) was born and raised in Lesotho. He went to Maseru Academy for his school studies and then moved to South Africa after he completed his grade 12. After matric, he went to train as a paramedic at Impact College in Welkom, Free State. When the training was completed he later realized that he has a calling which was cooking. One day he surprisingly got a call from his friend asking him if he’s not interested in working in South Africa, his response was “yes why not because it’s a great opportunity “Giggles Relebohile.
When did you get into the business?
The business was started four years ago by my mother (Eva) and a Greek gentleman (Antony). Anton went back to Greece last year, and that’s when I came on board, however, I was a silent partner. This means that my mother and Antony were the ones running the business.
Donald has been with us from day one and he has been incredible. There is nothing that can compare to his Pizza “Giggles’’.
El Vivo’s is like my second home I have never been so happy in my entire life. My colleagues have treated me like their own since day one, as Maria mentioned I have been with them since the beginning. “Pizza it’s my specialty and our customers love it so much and we do it with our secret recipe and that’s why it’s the best you can get in town,” said Donald.
Restaurant businesses are very competitive, how do you guys stay on top?
The logo says you have a right to good food, preparation is on time, all food is cooked on orders, very fresh, everything is not pre-done and they are very affordable for the quality you get. The staff is very friendly and offer a very warm welcoming as part of El Vivo’s culture.
Do you see your business growing? Like branching out?
Yes, branching out is a concept that we have been thinking of for a very long time but we still watching the market and weighing our options by doing a proper research, and we also very happy with our sales now.
Maria says she doesn’t want to lose you as their employee, but do you see yourself leaving them anytime soon? (KasiLevesa Interviewer)
“I don’t see myself leaving El Vivo’s anytime soon they have been good to me. In two to five years’ time, I want to see myself owning El Vivo’s franchise, running it and managing it… That’s the ultimate dream I want to fulfill’’ said Donald.
For more information about El Vivo’s you can get them on the following details.
Website: http://elvivos.co.za/
0514442122
0837814485
