Meet the Woman Who Sold Tea for 50 Paise and Now Owns a Rs 100 Crore Restaurant Empire
Meet the Woman Who Sold Tea for 50 Paise and Now Owns a Rs 100 Crore Restaurant Empire
From abusive marriage to Chennai’s top restaurateur, Patricia Narayan’s journey is a tale of courage, resilience, and unstoppable grit.
Patricia Narayan’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, into a traditional Christian family, she married at just 17, a Hindu Brahmin man named Narayan. What followed was a harsh and painful chapter of domestic abuse and neglect from her alcoholic husband. Within a year, Patricia made the brave decision to leave with her two children and return to her father’s home.
Her fight for survival began with no financial support, only determination. With a small loan from her mother and a passion for cooking, Patricia started making pickles and jams at home. Her products sold out within a day. Seizing the momentum, she set up a tiny tea and snack cart near Marina Beach, selling coffee for just 50 paise. Gradually, her sales increased, and she began earning Rs 700 a day, enough to support her young family.
Between 1982 and 2003, she expanded her venture steadily, even hiring differently-abled workers for her growing kiosk. Her big breakthrough came when the Chairman of the Slum Clearance Board tasted her food and offered her a canteen contract. That opened the doors to multiple canteen branches across Chennai.
In 1998, she became a partner in the renowned Sangeetha Restaurant chain, further cementing her position in the food industry. However, tragedy struck in 2004 when her daughter died in a car accident. To honour her memory, Patricia and her son launched the Sandeepha Restaurant in 2006.
Today, Sandeepha has 14 thriving outlets and over 200 employees. It generates more than Rs 2 lakh in daily revenue, and Patricia Narayan’s net worth stands at approximately Rs 100 crore.
Her story stands as a powerful reminder: no matter how deep the hardship, with courage and resilience, one can rise to incredible heights.
