Young Hanmer Entrepreneur Finds Success with Chip Fever Diner

Mathieu Reay is the perfect example of the type of person who forges their own career path despite the recommendations and naysayers. Reay, now 20 years of age, owns Chip Fever in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre, a diner serving meals everyday of the week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. “Back in high school in 2017, my guidance counsellor suggested I would make a great funeral home director,” he said. “The counsellor pushed for me to attend post-secondary school.” But in Grade 11 at age 16, Reay had plans of his own. With the help of his parents, he purchased his first food truck and set up a shop at the Vermillion Campground for the summer. “I’d already worked at a food truck the summer before and while it wasn’t a fulfilling experience, it inspired me to be my own boss and purchase my own food truck,” Reay said. “Kids at school would bully me and call me ‘chipstand boy’. It was annoying and it bothered me, but I pushed forward with my plans.” By the summer after high school, Reay was running two food trucks. Seven months ago, that morphed into a full-fledged 1,000-square-foot diner with a staff of eight. Reay admits he almost missed his final high school exams because he was so busy managing the trucks, training staff and trying to get his name out there in the community with the help of social media and word of mouth. His menu is one page. Reay says his slogan has always been “simple but good”. While customers always have some great add-on suggestions, he is trying to keep the menu small and focused. He said customers love the caesar wrap made with his own homemade caesar dressing. There are other wraps on the menu along with an assortment of salads. The young entrepreneur said his signature poutines — with additions like buffalo chicken, pickles or hamburger — are also hot commodities with Reay saying poutine sales are in the hundreds each day. He said local potatoes from Don Poulin Potatoes Inc. make each poutine extra special. Of course, he has his favourite items, too. “Every morning before my 10 a.m. opening, I start my day with a double cheese burger. I call it my breakfast of champions,” he joked. He’s also worked with his staff to grow a breakfast menu and following. And more big things are on the horizon for Reay. He’s set his sights on a second location in central Sudbury. He will also be bottling and selling his homemade dressings in a matter of weeks. His message for youth: “Take what people say with a grain of salt. Pave your own path.” Reay knows he could not have seen success this quickly without the support of family. “My mom is my greatest support system,” he said. “My family is who I listen to for feedback and reviews. They even helped me solidify a name and a brand like Chip Fever.” While his days of operating a food truck are over, he has much respect for the people who do that grueling work. “Don’t get me wrong. I am still hustling. I have not taken a day off in seven months and feel guilty if I even consider it, but seasonal work in a chipstand is not glamorous so I am much happier in my restaurant in the Hanmer mall.” Chip Fever is open every day of the week in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. See Facebook, Instagram and ChipFever.ca for more details.