Our Silk Road Shack Needs a Few Upgrades

Hi, my name is Merri and my husband, Farrukh and I own a Pakistani restaurant in Hot Springs South Dakota.

Farrukh is from Pakistan and we cook Pakistani cuisine daily at home. About a year and a half ago, the main 2 restaurants in our small town burned down, and we saw the need for quality fresh food. So we decided to take some donations for our food from home and after doing it 3 weekends in a row; we quickly realized that the line outside our door was serious! We soon became legit and found a “ghost” kitchen. Patrons would get on a list and pick their food up on the weekends. That building sold, and we were fortunate enough to buy the small kitchen/shack/alley next to the building we were in.

Our kitchen is so special. We cook cauldrons of food, pouring spices from all over the Silk Road. Our Community has supported us through two Winters, and going into our second Summer. We have put our souls into the food, atmosphere, and online presence. It has epically evolved beyond our expectations.

We have made many changes, adding a new 8 burner stove, wooden posts, sails, new benches etc.

We are at a critical juncture and need to build and add into our special hole-in-the-wall.

•Paver-stones- to give better wheelchair accessibility to our patrons. As well as a softer walkway when serving.

•Tandoor BBQ - Brick fire pit/propane grill/sink to make flat breads, roast whole goats in, etc

•New floor and insulation in our building.

• building a wooden gate for better security

Bringing Pakistani cuisine to Hot Springs has almost given us the feeling of Ambassadors for the Eastern part of the world. We live in a Veteran’s town, and the joy that comes from Veteran’s telling us our food takes them back to good times…never gets old.

Patrons are willing to try vegan dishes and love them, children are eating cloves and know what Star Anise looks and tastes like.

Silk Road has a solid local online platform, a virtual table where the community shares their food experiences.

It has all become bigger than us. Almost feels like we have stewardship of this place, but the community runs it. It has been an incredible journey!

But.. we are low on funds... Straight up. The business makes money, and the money we make goes to the business or to pay bills.

We are reaching out to the world of gofundme, praying that whomever is reading this.. well, wants to help us keep giving experiences.