For Zinzi Chamanifard, owner of Hidden Cuisine restaurant, the shortage of housing for employees motivated her to take matters into her own hands and become part of the solution for a problem that plagues many in Moab.
Six years ago, she started seeing the need to build employee housing—some of her kitchen workers didn’t have places to stay. Luckily, the restaurant property was large enough to build five RV hook-ups behind the restaurant. It’s been a long road, but the RV pads are almost ready for occupants.
The path has had its ups and downs– after almost two years of planning, working with the Utah Department of Transportation, and getting engineer surveys and city approval, Chamanifard obtained a permit and applied to the Sustainable and Resilient Business (STAR) Grant from Grand County for funding.
However, price increases for materials and the unavailability of contractors led to setbacks in the project timeline. Additional obstacles included waiting for Rocky Mountain Power to upgrade the transmission for power to the hook-ups. In the time from when it was proposed to now, the cost of the project has doubled, according to Chamanifard.
It’s been worth the effort, though, she said. She hopes to create continuity in her staffing by offering employee housing. The challenges of developing bonds with employees and then having to say goodbye to staff because they couldn’t find housing were defeating.
“I’ll be relieved knowing my employees have a place to stay,” Chamanifard said.
Building housing is personal for Chamanifard. Her journey in Moab started 13 years ago, working at various establishments like Desert Bistro and Sweet Cravings, and expanding her personal business– cooking out of her own kitchen and selling her goods at the farmer’s market. In the process, she’s seen the need for employee housing– especially in the current Hidden Cuisine location, which is a few miles outside of downtown Moab.
“I’m trying to do something to help the community,” Chamanifard said.
Taxes on the property have been a shock to Chamanifard. Appraisals last year tripled her taxes and made her contemplate selling her business out of fear of not being able to pay the increased taxes. But she hasn’t given up.
“It’s a project I started and need to finish,” Chamanifard said of her commitment to the housing project.
The final step is to dig a drainage pond, a requirement for any new construction. After that, employees can move into their new space. Chamanifard is happy to offer this space to other employers needing housing for their employees and open to partnerships with other businesses.
Hidden Cuisine offers South African and Malaysian fusion, inspired by Chamanifard’s roots in South Africa. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and serves a South African lunch menu with wine from South Africa and traditional items such as biltong (a seasoned dried beef), bobotie (a meatloaf stew), and deserts like soweto amarula crème brûlée.
