{"id":6497,"date":"2025-05-15T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/?p=6497"},"modified":"2025-05-15T07:31:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T05:31:13","slug":"v8-the-story-of-passion-family-and-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/articles\/v8-the-story-of-passion-family-and-food\/","title":{"rendered":"V8 \u2013 The Story of Passion, Family and Food"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Background and Inspiration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria Markides grew up in Benoni, surrounded by the hustle of a family-run supermarket. Her parents\u2019 relentless work ethic and commitment to their business planted the earliest seeds of her entrepreneurial spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“From a young age, I was involved\u2014packing stock, helping customers, checking orders, and restocking shelves,” she recalls. “That early exposure showed me that hard work and independence can open doors to opportunity.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even as a teenager, Maria was finding her feet in business. She sold Lip-Ice at school and worked at a local video store\u2014simple ventures, but ones that taught her responsibility and the basics of thinking like a business owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My childhood home encouraged creativity and resilience. I was always solving problems, trying new things, and not afraid to fail.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Passion for Food and Community<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria\u2019s journey into the food industry wasn\u2019t something she planned. It grew naturally from her love of bringing people together around food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Food connects people. The idea of creating memorable experiences around a table really resonated with me,” she says. That passion eventually found its place in the restaurant industry\u2014where hearty meals meet community and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facing job uncertainty at a key point in her life became the catalyst for change. “That\u2019s when I knew I needed to take control of my future. I didn\u2019t want to rely on anyone else for stability. So I built my own path.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentorship also played a role, especially the influence of George, her partner and long-time supporter. “Watching him handle staff, operations, and customers with calm confidence taught me more than any course or book ever could.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Birth of V8 Roadhouse<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than twenty years ago, Maria and George bought land in Hartbeespoort with the dream of one day creating something special. That dream became a reality in 2019 when they opened V8 Roadhouse\u2014a family-friendly space with nostalgic, motor-themed d\u00e9cor and hearty roadhouse meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We saw a gap. Most places were either too formal or didn\u2019t cater to families with energetic kids. We wanted something relaxed and full of personality\u2014something that felt like home.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting started meant pooling savings, borrowing from family, and applying for a business loan. They did much of the work themselves\u2014from designing the menu to handling the marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as they began finding their stride, COVID-19 hit.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It was a tough time,” Maria admits. “But we adapted\u2014switched to takeaways, improved our drive-thru, and pushed social media. Those quick changes helped us survive.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the challenges, the community embraced V8 Roadhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Seeing people gather, connect, and make memories here\u2014that\u2019s one of the proudest moments of my journey.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing Work and Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria makes a conscious effort to juggle business, family, and rest. She structures her days with intention: mornings are for work, afternoons for family, and at least one day a week is reserved for recharging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In my free time, I love baking and painting with my three daughters. That time is sacred\u2014it keeps me grounded.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her daily rhythm starts early, often with a morning run, followed by emails, bookings, and then heading to the restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Stress is inevitable, but I\u2019ve learned that delegating and trusting the team makes a big difference. Sometimes a quiet coffee or a short walk is all I need to reset.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weekends are often spent around the braai with family and friends. “Nothing beats that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking Ahead and Giving Back<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dream doesn\u2019t stop with one restaurant. Maria hopes to expand V8 Roadhouse into other towns\u2014maybe even franchise it one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Whatever we do next, the heart of what we\u2019ve built will stay the same: great food and genuine community.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying close to her customers is what keeps her motivated. “Listening to feedback, watching trends, and constantly improving\u2014that\u2019s what keeps the spark alive.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? “Start with what you have, right now. Don\u2019t wait for perfect conditions. And build relationships\u2014they\u2019re more powerful than you realise.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflections and Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked what she\u2019d tell her younger self, Maria doesn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Don\u2019t be afraid to take risks. You\u2019ll never feel 100% ready. Just leap\u2014and trust yourself to figure it out.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Maria, success is defined by resilience, adaptability, and humility. “You have to be willing to learn, to fail, and to show up\u2014even on the hard days.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through V8 Roadhouse, she hopes to leave behind more than just a business. “I want it to be remembered as a place that brought people together and made a positive impact.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This journey has changed her. It\u2019s made her stronger, more patient, and more grateful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I\u2019ve learned to celebrate the small wins, honour the people who support me, and stay humble\u2014no matter what lies ahead.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Daniella (24)
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Gabriella (19)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Even as a teenager, Maria was finding her feet in business. She sold Lip-Ice at school and worked at a local video store\u2014simple ventures, but ones that taught her responsibility and the basics of thinking like a business owner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6498,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,18],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-6497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-business","tag-national"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-scaled.jpg",1707,2560,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-768x1152.jpg",640,960,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-683x1024.jpg",640,960,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-1024x1536.jpg",1024,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-1365x2048.jpg",1365,2048,true],"magazine-7-slider-full":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-1536x1020.jpg",1536,1020,true],"magazine-7-slider-center":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-936x897.jpg",936,897,true],"magazine-7-featured":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-1024x1536.jpg",1024,1536,true],"magazine-7-medium":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-720x380.jpg",720,380,true],"magazine-7-medium-square":["https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/TLM-8-Edit-2-675x450.jpg",675,450,true]},"author_info":{"info":["Marinda Sauerman"]},"category_info":"Articles & Advertisers<\/a> Business<\/a>","tag_info":"Business","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6497"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6509,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6497\/revisions\/6509"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelife.digital\/tl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}