Lismore businesses continue to reopen each week, the numbers have slowed but it is still feels good to read emails from people that have worked incredibly hard through extremely difficult circumstances to finally reopen their doors to the public one again.

Sony Singh, the owner of Masala Fusion Indian Restaurant on Keen Street, is one of these business owners.

Sony is another heartbreaking case of purchasing his building in January this year just before the February 28 flood destroyed his restaurant and his 18 month old Masala Continental and Indian Grocery store which was next to the restaurant.

In an all too familiar story, Sony lifted 80% of his stock above record levels only to discover that effort was in vain.

Since February 28, Sony has been working seven days a week which included cleaning out his own restaurant and grocery story while at the same time going to work for the community.

You may recall the five Sikh Volunteer Australian heroes that drove from Melbourne to help feed Lismore in our time of need, Sony was heavily involved.

"We cooked at my home and provided 1200 meals a day, every day with the two vans which were loaded up by 11am and sent one to the evacuation centre and one in Keen Street," Sony explained.

Sony then used his cooking skills to cook for the Koori Mail for six months and also Trees With Bombs for a short stint.

At the same time Sony continued to clean out Masala Fusion three days a week, with some help from friends and big hearted community people, as well as working security two days a week because "the bills had to be paid". You may have seen Sony at various events like the One From The Heart concert.

It is the Sikh way to help the community and Sony is not only a believer but he follows that with action and for that, as a community, we should be thankful.

Sony paid tribute to his wife Erin for helping him through the mental journey over the last seven months.

"This was completely another level and apart from the physical work, mentally it was tough. To cope with my mental status Erin had to deal with me for the first three months as people would tell me their stories while I was cooking. They were worse than me, you know."

The Singh's bank also didn't help with their mental state.

The mortgage on the building they purchased in January was $4000 a month, their bank gave them three months grace with mortgage repayments not realising the extent of the damage to the city of Lismore.

"Our bank said we can automatically have three months and I'm like okay and then I tried to contact them to say look, this is the extent that we have to rebuild, from the ceiling down, can you do any longer? That's been a fight," Erin explained.

Masala Fusion Indian Restaurant is scheduled to open their doors on Thursday. It was to be today, however, some bad luck occurred when a critical brand new part in his cool room broke which is likely to be fixed in the next two days.

"We will begin with takeaway only, Sony said, "due to the lack of staff."

That is another "challenge", as Sony likes to call them, that all Lismore businesses are having to deal with. The majority of hospitality staff needed to find work so travelled to other areas or left the district to do so. Now, with a lack of accommodation, soaring rental & petrol prices hospitality staff are at a premium.

The lack of staff has also meant a slight menu change but the popular pre-flood dishes will be served as well as some Sony special dishes.

"I'll do baigan bagarra, the vegetarian paneer pasanda, nilgiri dishes and more," Sony said.

If you are looking for hospitality work or know someone that is, ask them to get in contact with Sony at Masala Fusion. No experience is necessary although preferred for front of house, however, training will be supplied if needed.

Masala Fusion Indian Restaurant will be open from Tuesday to Friday for lunch (11:30am - 2:30pm) and dinner (4:30pm - 9pm) and Saturday & Sunday dinner only (4:30pm to 9pm).

To place an order, call Sony (02) 6621 6738 or place an order via the website https://masalafusion.com.au/.

The Masala Indian & Continental Grocery will not reopen in the form it was before February 28. Sony saying that he and Erin had to sell their home to reopen their business although they will stock some basic supplies that the public can buy.

"I will see how I go but I am planning to put up some racks for the basic stuff like spices and some flour products," Sony said.

In the meantime, the room will be available for Christmas parties or business functions before being used as extra dining space in 2023.

Now that doors are all but reopen, how does it feel for Sony and Erin?

"We are excited on the one side but nervous on the other worrying how we will cope with less trained staff. There is one thing people can rely on and that is the quality of the food. I have cut down our menu but I don't compromise on the quality. I will continue to make my own spices using our new stone miller."

Lismore has supported a lot of businesses since doors began to reopen in mid-March and Masala Fusion is another that needs and deserves your support.