While warmly welcoming Ishvar and Varsha, the new owners of the Oriental Bay Store, to Oriental Bay, we want to take this opportunity to thank Mr Patel and his wife for their wonderful service to our community over 30 years.
Mr Patel was always very knowledgeable about happenings and goings on in the bay, and took a genuine interest in his customers’ wellbeing. He loved children and children loved him. Below is a picture of Lily (five and a half) and Francis (two and a half) with Mr Patel. It was always a huge highlight for them to visit him, and both were in the habit of saying ‘namaste’ to him while bowing with hands together.
Mr Patel would talk with them on their level, and was always funny and generous. They adored him.
Mr Patel’s parting gift to the shop, and to the community, can be seen in the background of the photo below. It says ‘Life is like an ice cream. Enjoy it before it melts.’
— Bay View Online newsletter, May 2022