12 April 2012 GAZETTE 19
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Interview: Antonio Macari, owner of Macari 66
Cooking the best in fresh at Macari 66 ANTONIO Macari’s parents came to live in Ireland in the late 1950s and early ’60s, respectively. Borza Cafe on Braemor Road in Churchtown, was owned by Antonio’s aunt and uncle and his mother was working there at the time. She met and married Antonio’s dad soon after. They went on to open a successful business, Macari’s, in 1966 at Harold’s Cross, but in 1972, they moved back to Italy. Antonio was only five years old, so he was brought up in Italy until he decided to come back to Ireland in 1993. He worked in Borza’s, in Tallaght, for a few months until he was given an opportunity to run the new Roma takeaway in Lucan Village, then a restaurant in Terenure and another takeaway. In the year 2000, he co-founded Italtiles, a bathroom and tiles company, with a friend. It had showrooms in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, and he was involved until 2008 when he sold his shares. He spent some time back with Borza’s again, which has always been his second home, until last year, when he decided to open Macari 66. The number 66 is very significant to him because his dad opened Macari’s in Harold’s cross in 1966, where it used to be a few doors down from the cinema. He kept it in the name to distinguish him from the other Macaris. He then decided to do things a bit different from other chippers and cook fresh fish while you wait. His beef and chicken burgers are home-made and use Irish beef and chicken, and he fries with palm oil only.
WHERE TO PLACE € 10,000 Q – I have €10,000 to invest. Would my best option be to put it off my tracker mortgage and keep same repayments to reduce the term ? Or another option, to buy prize bonds ? Thanks. Declan – Blanchardstown A - There are a number of factors that must be considered in making investment decisions. Age, family and income are the three major considerations, along with current savings and investments strategies – do you have a Rainy Day Fund ? Ideally, three to six months net annual income in an accessible account for three reasons : 1. Emergencies (your engine packs in) 2. Sudden loss of income (one of you loses your job) 3. Investment opportunity (buying that le Broquy for half nothing !) Tracker rates are 1% currently and possibly likely to go even lower for the next 24 months. Therefore, you CAN earn more on deposit than you can save by paying off your tracker mortgage. You are probably paying c. 1.75% interest on your mortgage. Best demand deposit is 3.25% ( KBC Bank – email me for details ) or net 2.275%... over 0.5% more than your mortgage is costing. Investec Bank also offer 4.52% (net 3.164%... 1.314% greater) on an 18month fixed deposit account. As regards Prize Bonds, you are subject to the
Antonio Macari, owner of Macari 66
vagaries of chance. While you do have a greater chance than the Lotto, those chances are still slim,
Q&A
but Prize Bonds are a good option in a balanced portfolio.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: An airplane pilot.
Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’? A: Most of the cleaning, which
ern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward? A: Probably Jedward.
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: Fancy restaurants and on
Q: What was your first job? A: Serving sweets and ice
I supervise anyway.
Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: A lot of Pink Floyd, Red Hot
holidays.
cream at the Borza on Braemor Road in 1980.
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: Twenty pounds. Q: When did you start your present job? A: November, 2011. Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: I suppose it’s that I am the
Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be? A: A holiday brochure, even though I can’t go right now!
Q: What sport do you follow? A: Football and the Six Nations’ rugby.
Q: What sport can you play? A: Football.
boss!
Q: What habits would you like to lose? A: Eating too much!
Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed? A: No, not really.
Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to? A: Definitely a holiday.
Q: Have you achieved anything that you once thought you could not pull off? A: My house, I guess.
Chili Peppers and other rock groups.
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: Mostly my friends status’. Q: What was your last Tweet/ status update? A: I shared a joke. Q: Describe your dream meal? A: It would have to be my wife’s lasagne and my mum’s homemade sausages.
Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure? A: Rock music.
Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna? A: Definitely together at the
Q: Who best represents mod-
same table.
Contact John with your money questions at
jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own? A: Six, plus four or five pairs of
director of Money Doctor
sport shoes.
Q: What was your worst holiday experience? A: I’ve never had a bad holiday. Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: A round-the-world trip of three months, at least.
Q: What would be your dream job? A: I would love to win the lotto and then do charity work fulltime.
Q: What do you plan to do when you retire? A: Travel as much as I can afford to.
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