Manhattan Bar & Grill, a small independent restaurant on Fenwick Street in Liverpool, has remained open for 12 years surrounded by larger competitors, thanks to a loyal customer base that accounts for 80 to 90 percent of its weekly sales.
The family behind the restaurant, led by Karlos Hassan and his father-in-law Vahid Lavasani, says the key to its longevity is the personal service and welcoming atmosphere it provides. The business, which opened in 2014, is part of a wider family story in the food industry that spans more than 35 years.
A family business built on service
Vahid Lavasani, 69, from Wallasey, told the ECHO: “It’s mainly the service we provide that keeps people coming back, alongside the quality of the food. It’s a family-based business, and people feel that they’re looked after well.”
He added: “When we first opened more than a decade ago, I found it difficult at times. But, based on what I had already achieved with my other businesses, I knew that if we ran Manhattan as a family business, we could be here for many years to come.”
Karlos Hassan, 44, from Norris Green, runs the bar and restaurant day-to-day, while his wife works there a couple of nights a week and his young son helps collect glasses at the weekend. He told the ECHO: “That’s where the family thing really comes into it. We absolutely smashed it for the first couple of years. Then, obviously, COVID hit, and we had to think about how we were going to come back from it.”
A history in the food industry
Vahid’s journey in catering began in 1990, when he took on a franchise of Captain Tony’s Pizza & Pasta Emporium, a New York brand with a branch in London. He opened his first outlet in Liscard that year, followed by another near Tranmere Rovers Football Club in 2001. Both businesses are still operating, with Vahid’s nephews, Kamran and Mehdi, now running the outlets while he remains the franchise holder.
The name Manhattan was chosen as a link between the restaurant and his existing businesses. More than a decade later, Manhattan has developed an identity of its own.
Big names and loyal regulars
Karlos said the loyal customer base has been crucial to surviving challenges like the pandemic. He told the ECHO: “Fortunately, we had such a loyal customer base, and it’s the same base that gets us through today. I’d say 80 to 90% of our weekly sales come from loyal customers. It makes me very proud. When you come in here, you feel the love; you feel like you’re being given an arm around the shoulder.”
He added: “That’s why, as such a small independent business in an area full of big operators and big names, we’re still here 12 years on. During that time, we’ve had some big names come through our doors, which is a massive achievement for us. As a small business, having the Paris Saint-Germain football team come back two years in a row was fantastic.”
Vahid said Keir Starmer has also visited on several occasions, albeit before he became Prime Minister. He added: “It’s not a franchise, and customers don’t get a different level of service depending on who is working. There’s a real family feel to the business, and I think that’s what attracts people to keep coming back.”
He also noted that regular customers from Scandinavia book tables every year when football matches are on, and that complaints about the removal of chicken Kiev from the menu led to its return.
