By Melissa Meehan
JODIE Gourley moved from Queensland to Healesville seven months ago with her partner.
“My whole family is up north, I didn’t know anybody when we moved here except for my partner’s family,” Ms Gourley said.
But since beginning employment at Healesville Charcoal Chicken almost three months ago, Ms Gourley said she has found her own “chicken family”.
Previously working in a sunglasses shop, a video store and other food outlets, Ms Gourley said that she loves working with owner, Spiros Stivactas and staff.
“It’s nice to come to work and feel appreciated, and Spiros is more like a friend than a boss,” Ms Gourley said.
Mr Stivactas said that Ms Gourley’s friendly and hardworking nature was a great asset for his business.
“She enjoys the pressure of busy shifts, she’s always happy and when she’s not in our customers often ask where she is,” Mr Stivactas said.
Ms Gourley says that the quality of the food is also an important part of her enjoyment of working at Healesville Charcoal Chicken.
“The people are great, but when you know the food is good quality and people are enjoying what you’re making it makes it all worthwhile,” Ms Gourley said.
At first, Ms Gourley said that she was surprised about the number of tourists that visited the shop on a regular basis.
“We often get phone calls from people who have been here before, calling us while they’re on their way to Healesville checking what time we’re open until,” Ms Gourley said.
“We even have a guy from Anglesea who used to live in Healesville, he still comes here to get his free-range chooks, it’s a long way to come for chicken,” Mr Stivactas said.
Both Mr Stivactas and Ms Gourley agree that tourists are an important part of their clientele but say that locals provide the core enjoyment of working at the shop.
Mr Stivactas said that once customers follow their noses to his shop they keep coming back.
“It’s such a friendly atmosphere, someone will walk in and I’ll be able to ask them about their family and know who they are talking about,” Mr Stivactas says.
“It is an important part of our customer service, we’re not here just to cook the chickens.”
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