New restaurant owner puts her touch on Wayland restaurant

MT. PLEASANT - Sira Curfman knew exactly what she wanted to do from the age of 6 - run her own restaurant.

Her father, Sam Tajeddin, who owned Hawkeye Pizza and Steakhouse in Mt. Pleasant from 2003 to 2010, said he remembers clearly the day she told him about her dream.

'When she was growing up we were in business, so she watched us deal with customers and everything else,” he said.

'When she was about 6, she said, ‘One day I will own a restaurant,' and it stuck in my head,” he recalled.

When Tajeddin was approached in July about taking over the Wayland Frontier Restaurant, his mind immediately went to Curfman.

'I told her, ‘I cannot do it because I have heart problems but this is your chance,'” he said.

Curfman was quick to seize on the opportunity. In just a little over a week, Curfman took over the establishment, deep cleaning, applying for restaurant licenses and ordering inventory. On Aug. 2, Your Choice Family Restaurant opened for customers.

'It's always something I looked forward to doing … it was just about waiting for the right opportunity,” Curfman said.

The new restaurant owner does a little bit of everything. From waitressing to helping out in the kitchen, Curfman has a hand in it.

For her, the business is more than just a job - it's an opportunity to create relationships and integrate into the community.

'I like people. It's a big community-based town, so they support your local business. It's just nice getting to know everybody. The community is a big part of why I enjoy doing what I do,” she said.

While her excitement carried her through most of the fear of entering business for the first time, Curfman said opening a restaurant in the middle of a pandemic was still 'really scary at first.”

'It's going to be questionable no matter where you open up or when you open up. Lots of small businesses are going under right now so it's like, am I going to be able to stay afloat? Luckily I've had a lot of support,” she said.

In addition to increased health and safety guidelines, Curfman hit an unexpected roadblock three weeks after opening her restaurant when she tested positive for the coronavirus.

Your Choice was shut down from Aug. 23 through the Labor Day weekend as Curfman and her staff quarantined and then later prepared the restaurant for reopening.

The new restaurant owner said the customers, many who are regulars and returners from the Frontier, have been 'really understanding” and supportive.

'We're doing as best we can to keep everyone safe,” she added.

As the first restaurant she has independently owned and operated, Curfman is excited to put her own touches to Your Choice. Currently, the American food eatery has maintained most of its previous menu but with additions like gyros, pitas and soon, steaks.

'We're looking for a pizza oven to hopefully do some pizza,” she added.

The wide variety of food served at the restaurant is a testament to its name, which came from an inside joke between Curfman and her husband.

'We always fight over where we're to eat when we go out of town. He always tells me, ‘Well, it's your choice.' We decided on Your Choice because it's where you want to eat,” she said.

Operating out of a small town means available dining options require a 20- to 30-minute drive. Curfman said it was important to offer what she could so customers have a wide variety of choices.

'We have a little bit of everything,” she said.

The new business owner hopes to continue getting to know the community as she continues to realize her dream of owning and running a restaurant.

'I'm just looking to be able to support my family and do something I enjoy at the same time,” Curfman said.