Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicolas Mazzawi.
Hi Nicolas, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My Father’s side of the family lived in Nazareth in the Middle East, his mother Abla entered a cooking contest. She won and the prize was money and her own restaurant. Her oldest child of five wanted to come to America to study. So my grandfather Norman Mazzawi, not wanting to separate the family, packed up and came to Miami to start a new life. While the children studied here, he opened up a Sandwich deli in the old Miami Herald building. The Miami Herald building was either sold or going to be torn down, can’t remember which, and my grandfather had to leave. There was a small shop on 17th ave and US1 called Daily Bread, the owner sold that business to my grandfather. My grandparents ran the business my grandfather in the front of the store and my grandmother in the kitchen. My father, after graduating to be an optometrist, and moving back home, opened up his own, Daily Bread in Pinecrest which was a hole in the wall. My father hired my mother to help him run his store in Pinecrest. They eventually married. My grandfather and his other sons asked my father come to work with them at the 17th ave store. As the business grew my father decided that the 17th ave location needed to relocate and expand so he bought some land and built what Daily Bread on 24th ave is now. As with most family businesses, there was a falling out. My father’s family forced him out of the business. There was a long bitter split up. My father left and with the split up took the Pinecrest Daily Bread. He also decided to open another location in south beach which eventually turned into a restaurant. When my father was diagnosed with cancer he decided to sell the south beach location. After months of chemo he was cancer free. He decided to just work and expand the Pinecrest Daily Bread to what it is today. It is now four times the size and went from one sandwich on the menu. To having 40+ items. My family owns Daily Bread in Pinecrest, Florida. We are a family owned business. With me, Nicolas, my brother Shaddy, my mother Rima, and my Father Toufic Mazzawi, we run Daily Bread on 12131 S Dixie hwy, Pinecrest, Florida 33176. This location has been in business for over 45 years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The major struggles was with my father’s family as they went thru the split up. Also, him going thru cancer and having to sell the other location. Besides that we have to go thru an unhappy customers who tries to rally a community together to boycott us. Two examples: we had a customer assume we were boycotting Jewish products because they could not find their usually products on the shelf. The customer took to Facebook letting the Jewish community know. She never asked us if it was true, just went straight to social media. We had customers call and ask us if it was true, The truth was the distributor who brings us those products fell ill and we could not get our shipments. It hurt our business for a couple of months. Another recent incident. A customer ordered thru phone with a special request, because we did not put her spinach pies in a special container, she took to the Next Door App. Slamming us for not following thru with her request. Our customers let us know what was going on. I signed on the app to let the community know our side with an apology to the lady. She refused my apology and did not care that she was trying to hurt a family business. Luckily we have really good customers who came to our side. The pandemic was also a bump in the road. We had a few slow months, but because website online ordering and delivery services such as Uber/Postmates, we made did well because we also sell groceries.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a Middle Eastern grocery/deli. We are known for our food. Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Tabouli, Pita Bread, all made in house and fresh from scratch. We make sandwiches, platters, and salads fresh to order right in front of the customers, the way they like it. We sell groceries and ingredients to in our market for customers to have for their homes. My Brother and I manage and oversee the store. What sets us apart from others, is that we are very hands on. You can see us behind the register greeting our customers or in the back watching. We are most proud of our food. We keep our quality fresh and consistently delicious. For over a year we have been making our pita bread fresh from scratch and if you come in the morning or afternoon baking it in front of the store for customers to see.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
It is all about consistency. I always find when a new business/restaurant start off they are good. After some time has passed I would return and the quality/service goes down. We have been here for over 45 years and our food is the same if not better than before. I never really started out, I took over the family business. If I had to say it would be studying or knowing more about social media. Social media is the best way to advertise, Also, not being afraid to fail. Whether it’s a new menu item I have created or taking a chance on putting money in a new website or TV menu. I was always held back from my family to investing time and money. I did it anyway and it worked out. So do not be afraid to fail.
Contact Info:
- Email: Contact@dailybreadmiami.com
- Website: DailyBreadMiami.com
- Instagram: @dailybreadmiami
Image Credits
Diegotexera Photography Diego Texera Www.diegotexera.com
