Adieu, My Friends!


 By Prasad Potluri               e-mail:  prasad@potluris.net

Prasad Potluri arrived in Pittsburgh seventeen years ago, starting his life living from his car. While working as an IT professional, with his innate entrepreneurial instincts, he ventured into a range of enterprises — screening Telugu Films, grocery stores, and Indian restaurants. After succeeding in all these, before returning to India in Spring 2013, here he takes leave of the people he worked with, lived with, and the people who were his customers.

The Potluris from L to R: Prasanthi, daughter Preetika, and Prasad.

It has been a wonderful time for me in Pittsburgh from Day 1 when I moved as a bachelor in 1995. Interacting with the few Indians living in Carriage Park then, I do not even remember how time went until I got married to Prasanthi in 1996. I met several wonderful friends who have been with me ever since, some of them becoming my business partners. It was an exhilarating journey for me.

When I was bored at work and had a lot of time, my mind wandered thinking of new things I could do. So, I started the site Living “Indian” in Pittsburgh, now known as www.pittsburghindian.com, a free site that helps newcomers to Pittsburgh to settle in.

Then in 2003, I jumped into the restaurant business. Coming from a business family, all I know was that if you provide the best service in your business, you will eventually succeed. I have followed this dictum all through, and I survived—even succeeded—in the business for which I thank my customers. From a restaurant in one little corner, we ended up operating in six locations spreading the wings around Pittsburgh with the names Tamarind and Manpasand. Working with my customers trying to provide the service they wanted was very satisfying to me.

I cannot thank enough Pittsburgh’s Indians who have been good to me and the businesses all these years. I leave these businesses in the capable hands of my partners who will manage them well.

Starting my life living out of a car and then moving into a comfort­able suburban family-oriented neighborhood, I acknowledge that Pittsburgh has been so good to me. So, as I prepare to move back to India, I find it difficult to take leave of you after all these years.

Pittsburgh will always be my second home. I may not know many of you personally, but many of you will remember the person behind the service you received all these years if you had come to any of my estab­lishments. With your blessings, I hope to make this difficult transition. Thanks again.

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