With tasty food, well-selected drinks, and classic furnishings, Nairobi modern lounge attracts customers with a taste for fine dining
By George Gichuki
There is some hidden treasure in the imposing Greenspan Shopping Mall – located in Donholm, Nairobi’s Eastlands. It is posh, spacious, and with a relaxed ambience. It is a hospitable place where you can wine and dine with a friend, compare notes with a business partner, catch up with a family member, while listening to cool music, or join the dance floor after a long day at work. The menu has a variety of tasty African cuisine and well-selected drinks. That hidden treasure is Benelix Lounge. The entrepreneur behind this hospitality marvel is Janice Weru. Articulate and welcoming, Janice has run this business for the last ten years. It is a story she tells clearly and joyfully. A battle hard fought. Victory well earned. “I am very passionate about this business, and that is why I decided to venture into it,” says Janice, adding she has honed her skills in the wider hospitality industry over the period she has operated Benelix Lounge.
The business has a lounge and restaurant. It is at its peak on weekends when live bands entertain customers as they enjoy their drinks and bites. On weekdays, those visiting the busy Greenspan Shopping Mall walk in for food and drinks. Benelix Lounge is home away from home. Given its speciality in preparing African menus – like kienyeji chicken, fish, roast meat and ugali- the business offers outside catering service targeting events like weddings, graduation parties, bridal and baby showers. “Much as this business is profitable, one has to be focused fully on its operations,” Janice says. “For instance, if you want repeat business from your customers, then the food that you offer them must meet the right quality and quantity,” she adds.
Relationship with Progressive Credit
Janice avers that cash flow and working capital are the lifeblood of businesses in the hospitality industry. “Running a lounge requires enough cash flow daily to purchase stock and utilities and to pay staff,” she says.
That challenge informed her decision to partner with a financial partner. She chose Progressive Credit. This partnership has borne fruits. “Progressive Credit helps us to meet our financial needs (like remunerating our staff) during the low seasons,” Janice observes. “In the same vein, the lender finances us during the high peak seasons when we need more stock and utilities,” she adds.
Progressive Credit’s financing has played a key role in strengthening the operations of her business. By providing timely working capital, it has enabled her to maintain adequate stock levels, improve service delivery, and remain stable during the peak season when demand is high.
“The financing process was transparent, professional, and timely, which is very important for a business that operates daily,” she notes. As a result, she has been able to operate smoothly, pay staff on time, consistently deliver quality food and services, and grow her revenue with confidence.
Most importantly, Janice has been able to repay her loans successfully because of strictly investing them in the business. Additionally, she says that Progressive Credit’s repayment structure is flexible and it matches her cash flow. “I view Progressive Credit not just as a lender, but as a partner in my business growth,” she says, adding that the lender’s support has contributed directly to the stability and continuity of her enterprise. “I would therefore advise other entrepreneurs to borrow with a clear purpose, use the funds responsibly, and choose a financial institution that understands small businesses — like Progressive Credit,” says Janice. In her view, with the right financial support, small businesses can grow sustainably. Clearly, the entrepreneur’s experience with Progressive Credit shows that access to timely and flexible financing can make a real difference in all forward-looking businesses.
