The owner of one of Aberdeen’s most popular beachfront cafes has said she has been overwhelmed by the public’s reaction to the news of the upcoming closure of the Sanddollar.
Suzi Millard, who has been running the much-loved eatery for 15 years, announced it will be closing its doors this weekend.
After the unit lease was coming to an end, she decided it was time to “take it easy” and spend more time with family.
Since the announcement, many have shared and commented online showing support for the local business and much-loved owner.
How the Sanddollar began
Ms Millard started her career as an apprentice chef aged 17 after carrying out her training at Aberdeen college.
The Dyce resident said her first job was at Mr G’s restaurant in Aberdeen where the chef really helped to encourage her as a young chef.
Ms Millard said: “She was a great mentor for me to further my career in cheffing as a young female because obviously female chefs weren’t really much around then.”
Since then, she has worked in a hotel restaurant, had her own outside catering company and worked at Camphill School for handicapped children. Before Sanddollar she worked at Spider’s Web for six years as head chef.
Inspired by others in the business and feeling boosted by her years of experience, Ms Millard started looking for her own venue.
It was after a year of searching that she came across Sanddollar: “I was walking along the beach one night and Sanddollar was up for sale and I came in and thought to myself I think I would like to own this cafe.
“It was just wanting to have my own business as a chef and bring my own things to the table.
“Basically I stepped into the Sanddollar and was thinking this is my baby now and I was just excited about creating this cafe into something unique and special.”
Inviting cafe customers as if coming into her ‘family home’
Starting off with one chef who Ms Millard worked alongside, she opened the cafe seven days a week. As she progressed with confidence and slowly grew the staff team, the 62-year-old said they started doing bistro evenings and special occasions.
She added: “I think that was one of my highlights, building the business from starting off and the cafe and introducing all these special events.
“My customers would come back time and time again to enjoy and to love the food and the ambiance.”
“And just building the teams and working with my team and my customers coming in my door and time and time again and the love and the support that they’ve given me. I like to welcome them as though they’re coming into my own family home.”
Sanddollar impossible without support
As she reflected on her experience over the years at Sanddollar Cafe, Ms Millard said it would not have been possible without the support from staff and loved ones.
She said: “Through the years, as the cafe was growing, we introduced all these events which I just thoroughly loved doing and our team I couldn’t have done it without the team front and back.
“Behind the scenes, I was getting backing and support for the business from my husband Garry and my brother Mark. Also my three sons over the years have all worked with me and supported me.
“I’m full of love and admiration for them being with me along this 15-year journey.”
She mentioned that many friends and family members had “come to her rescue” over the years to help her out with the business.
Closing the cafe has not been an easy decision but Mrs Millard said it was time to take it easy: “I’ve worked hard and I may find it hard to slow down but I’m looking forward to be spending more time with my family.
“Particularly seeing my grandchildren and travelling overseas to my son and family.”
‘Sanddollar has been my life for 15 years’
Since posting online, Ms Millard said she was blown away by the reaction and did not expect it to go “viral”. Customers have even been dropping off flowers and handwritten cards sharing memories and thanks from over the years.
She said: “I am totally overwhelmed by the reaction and amazing comments, I never realised it meant so much to so many people. Because it means so much to me, the Sanddollar.
“It’s going to be very emotional when I have to finish on Sunday (June 22). Just the fact that this has been my life for 15 years, that I’ll miss my customers’ happy faces coming in the door and having my personal chats and swapping stories.
“And I’m certainly going to miss my team and just the camaraderie that we have in the background.”
“I don’t think it’s going to really hit me until I’m gone.
“The cafe’s been like my extended family, past and present, my staff are like my extended family who I keep in touch with. It’s been a rollercoaster over 15 years but it’s been fabulous, I’ll always have in my heart my memories of Sanddollar.”
She said it would be the “end of an era” but was forever grateful to those who had been supporting her along the way.
Sanddollar Cafe will be closing on Sunday May 22 but a local family business are sub-letting the unit. All Sanddollar Cafe staff will be continuing their service and joining the new team.
Ms Millard added the change will be: “A fabulous new beginning down at the beach.”
Conversation