BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
It was a beautiful funfair at the opening of the new ‘The Place’ outlet in Lekki, Lagos on Monday, December 19, 2022, which recorded an impressive turnout of customers who were eager to partake in the experience they will continue to have for a very long time.
The restaurant, which is one of Nigeria’s leading Quick Service Restaurants, launched the new outlet in its determination to bring quality meals closer to its customers.
With over 22 outlets spread across Lagos, Abuja and Ilorin, the newly opened outlet is located at Freedom Way, end of Admiralty Way. It is strategically situated at the heart of the area bubbling with activities, and is a commercial and residential home to many.
As early as 8a.m., customers trooped in en masse to have the sumptuous tastes of the various delicacies The Place had to offer, and at discounted prices, while the disk jockey played hit tracks to the entertainment of the customers.
Speaking to The Point at the launching of the outlet, the Chief Operations Officer, Chinelo Umeugochukwu, described the turnout as “impressive”, adding that “it showed the positive trajectory of our brand perception and support from our enthusiastic customers, and we remain committed to being better.”
Unlike other brands that had left the country due to the unfriendly economic conditions, Umeugochukwu assured that the inflation and increasing cost of goods won’t deter the company from improving on its services and expanding its operations.
She said, “We are evidently Nigerian in our soul and as Nigerians, our never say die attitude is engraved in all our dealings. We believe and are optimistic that the New Year and next election will help neutralise all the uproar in the economy felt this year.
“For our brand, we’re expanding, and intend to cover more spaces. We’ll ensure that our customers get the best. Our meals always come out fresh that I can guarantee. They’ll always have the juiciest and freshest of meals every day. Our prices are very affordable, compared to what we have in the market. We have varieties of meals and this is an assurance to our customers that they’ll always get quality food that matches their expectations. Our beautiful ambiance, you can’t get that anywhere else”
“We challenge ourselves to constantly reduce our cost of operation, and therefore beat, to a significant point, the increase that inflation brings. However, when we cannot, we are committed to fair pricing that also enables us to deliver the best quality,” she added.
Describing the outlet’s opening as a “success” and “encouraging”, while expressing satisfaction at the huge turnout of customers on the very first day of its opening, the company’s Compliance, Customer Complaints and Resolution Manager, Enny-Ola Orebela, told The Point that customer satisfaction is top on their agenda.
On what sets The Place apart from other competitors, Orebela said, “For our brand, we’re expanding, and intend to cover more spaces. We’ll ensure that our customers get the best. Our meals always come out fresh that I can guarantee. They’ll always have the juiciest and freshest of meals every day. Our prices are very affordable, compared to what we have in the market. We have varieties of meals and this is an assurance to our customers that they’ll always get quality food that matches their expectations. Our beautiful ambiance, you can’t get that anywhere else.
“Everybody is affected by the economy, the rich, poor and the average. We are part of the economy and the inflation is eating deep into companies, every organisation is feeling the effect. But we’ll try to balance that. We have something for all classes of customers, something pocket friendly. We can’t control inflation, it’s not in our hands to control but what we try to do is make sure our prices are friendly and our meals are worth the price, despite the harsh economy,” Orebela assured.
Narrating his experience at the opening, one of the customers, Paul Nnodi, expressed satisfaction with The Place. He lauded the restaurant’s service, particularly the cheap prices, as he resolved to always patronise.
“I wasn’t expecting the low prices, they had everything, and you’ll be spoiled with choices. I’m definitely coming here during the festive season, and thereafter,” the happy customer said.
Another customer, Ike Kingsley, who was already a customer of The Place, told The Point that the launching of the new outlet surpassed his expectation, as he hoped that the restaurant maintains its high standard and not compromise on quality.
He said, “I used to patronise their other branch which is quite far from where I stay. But with this new branch opening, I don’t have to stress myself anymore. I already know their standard, but I wasn’t expecting this on the very first day of opening. You can imagine how it would look on other days, especially Christmas, Easter, and the rest. It’s very nice.”
The opening of this new branch came one month after it announced on November 28, the opening of another outlet at the newly constructed Tropic Galleria Mall, Central Business District, Abuja.
According to the management, the company is looking to expand its business operations to other states in the country and even beyond its shores, in spite of the country’s harsh economic challenges which had left few other major competitors out of business.
