After close to two decades in business, Omar Fuller continues to appeal to the tastebuds of customers with his renowned crispy chicken, as well as a traditional Caribbean cuisine.
Fuller, who came to Canada in 1990, recalled his first experiences as an entrepreneur.
“I’m from a place called Golden Spring in Jamaica. I came to Canada in the middle of winter, which was a kind of culture shock…we lived in Cambridge for a bit, and then I met my wife [and] settled in Brantford. I was in the club business, doing that for a few years, [and] then ended up opening Broaster’s Crispy Fried Chicken,” he said.
Fuller would go on to open two locations of Broaster’s Crispy Fried Chicken, yet found that his customers wanted his personal touch when they came in.
“We actually [had] two restaurants in Brantford. One on Stanley Street, and the other on Brantwood Park Road. But the thing was, every time some of my customers came in to order they also wanted to see me and talk with me; and with two locations, that wasn’t possible. I end up closing the one on Stanley Street to focus on the one on Brantwood and my customers,” he explained. “Our specialty is fried chicken, but we do Caribbean food too. And along with servicing our customers here, we also cater…we have many customers, not only from Brantford, but places like Kitchener, Simcoe, Hamilton, and Cambridge. So, I think we are doing something right.”
However Fuller has maintained a strong customer base because of his famous crispy chicken, which has come from many years of perfecting his recipe.
“Nothing starts perfect, so you just have to keep on trying…[different recipes] until you find the right one that your customers want,” he said. “With the Caribbean food, you can tweak it a little bit, but I have learned it’s best to listen to your grandmother and keep it traditional.”
Despite the long hours, Fuller relishes the relationships he has made with many of his customers through the years.
“It’s a lot of work…[and] no one is going to put in that work for you…also, some people think when you’re running your own business, you’re rich…sometimes you’re the one who goes without a paycheck, because [as the owner] I have to make sure the workers are fine,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the good thing with owning your own business [is] you get to see and know your customers…and many of them have been coming here for years [and me] and my wife know everyone by name. So that’s very good.”
And with living in the area for several decades, the restaurateur praised Brantford and its continued growth.
“Brantford has a small-town feel [and] it’s a very nice place where you want to raise your kids…I remember when I just came here and saw [Assumption College] going up with nothing around there,” Fuller said. “And now when I drive around in that area, I don’t even realize there’s a high school there, because it’s so built up…so, you can see the community is really growing.”
Nevertheless, along with successfully managing the current location, Fuller is looking at launching a new enterprise in the new year.
