Jim and Sandra Goodick went to their local CBDC in Shelburne for assistance with revamping Mr. Fish, a popular seafood restaurant in their community.
CBDC helping small businesses thrive in Shelburne
Mr. Fish is one local business that took advantage of the CBDC in Shelburne to help them revamp their popular seafood restaurant.
Sandra and Jim Goodick knew Mr. Fish, a take-out seafood restaurant in Shelburne, would be a great place where the community could gather and enjoy high-quality seafood, so they turned to their local CBDC to make their dream a reality.
Jim opened Mr. Fish in 1997 but decided to sell the restaurant to pursue other businesses. The restaurant took on several different owners throughout the years, but when Jim retired in 2019, he decided he wanted to turn Mr. Fish into the restaurant he always dreamed it could be.
“When I retired, I thought I’d buy back the restaurant and expand it because I always thought it could do better than just a take-out window. I wanted to add some rooms, a new kitchen and make it a place where people could sit and enjoy a great meal,” says Jim.
To expand Mr. Fish they needed some financial assistance, which CBDC Shelburne was able to provide.
CBDCs are not-for-profit organizations that support the success of small businesses in rural areas by providing financing, training and advice to entrepreneurs.
“Here at CBDC, we operate a little bit differently than the traditional bank,” says Heidi Wagner, the executive director of CBDC Shelburne. “CBDC focuses on the community need and finds ways to support local businesses through financial loans, assistance with business plans, accounting and much more.”
When it comes to Mr. Fish, there was a need in the community for a seafood market, and the Goodicks are well known in the community. They have been busy from day one, says Wagner.
As a prominent business owner in the community, Jim knew the staff at CBDC and could trust that they could provide him with the support he needed for his business.
“At CBDC, they know who you are because they work with the community. It’s a small town, so everyone knows each other, so I knew I could trust them, and they could trust me as a successful business owner in the community,” says Jim.
“When we started, we had to buy all new equipment and renovate the building, so there were a lot of expenses at the beginning. If we had not found support from CBDC, then we probably wouldn’t have been able to open the business,” says Sandra.
The restaurant is now a popular establishment offering locally caught, high-quality seafood, fried chicken and Newfoundland specials like Jiggs dinner, which has root vegetables, ham and mussels.
“We offer local fresh seafood, and most of it is caught on our own boats,” explains Jim. “We don’t buy any seafood that’s not caught locally in the community.”
Jim has worked in the fishing industry for years and knows the difference quality makes when it comes to seafood and takes pride in knowing he is serving only the best and freshest catch available.
“We are different than other seafood establishments because I buy right off the boats. We go directly to the fishermen themselves, which makes a difference in quality,” says Jim.
Mr. Fish also offers a fish market so customers can see the fish they will be served, says Sandra.
This year is the first year Mr. Fish is open during the winter. Usually, it is a seasonal business, but due to its popularity in the community, they decided to stay open.
“We were so busy, and the people were asking, so we decided to stay open all winter this year, and the response has been overwhelming,” says Sandra. “Our community supports us 100 per cent, which we greatly appreciate.”
“The local community keeps us going, so we always cater to them, the tourists are a bonus, but we always look forward to seeing our repeat customers,” she says.
The restaurant business is not easy, says Sandra. The pandemic certainly didn’t make owning a small business any easier, but knowing that CBDC was there to help made all the difference, she adds.
“CBDC understands the struggles in the community and can cater to our needs, which adds a personal touch,” says Sandra. “They also offer more than just finances. I have used their accounting training course, and they taught me how to use social media, like a business Facebook page, and we feel like they always have our backs.”
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