A couple operating an Indian grocery store from their garage have fiercely criticized a neighbor’s complaints, claiming the situation has negatively impacted their wellbeing.

Jinu Joseph, 38, and his wife Lincy Mathew, 38, have owned Kerala Spices Indian Groceries on Porter Street in Wright, west Canberra, since 2023.

They started the small business in their suburban garage to balance part-time work with raising their four children, who range in age from 18 months to nine years.

However, neighbor and GP Prasad Abeyrathne has labeled the shop a ‘disruption to the community’, expressing his concerns to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, as reported by The Canberra Times.

He described customers parking on the street and large trucks unloading goods, claiming that this posed a risk to children playing on the footpaths. 

‘This business is now destroying the everyday life of its neighbours; it runs from 6:30am to 11:00pm,’ Dr Abeyrathne said.

He noted, ‘Throughout the day, there is a continuous flow of traffic to the shop. Interestingly, the owner and the customers of this shop park their vehicles wherever they like.’

Mr. Joseph has countered that the accusations are ‘absolutely wrong’, stating that the complaints have left his wife distressed by allegations of operating an ‘illegal business’.

‘She’s really stressed. She is pretty weak now,’ he said.

‘She went to work and then everyone asked, ‘What’s wrong?’ Everyone seems to think we are doing some illegal business.

‘Even at night time, we notice that people come and stop their car in front of the house. Everyone is looking at our house because the news has spread everywhere.’

The small Indian grocer, which has the slogan ‘no compromise for quality’, features racks of packaged foods as well as frozen goods, all squeezed into a single-vehicle garage. 

‘When the interest rate became very high, I needed to feed my kids and we couldn’t survive, so that’s why I thought about opening the small business,’ Mr Joseph said.

‘We need to look after the kids so that’s why we both are part-time.’

Mr Joseph said the issues raised by Dr Abeyrathne were incorrect, telling Daily Mail the claims did not represent how he and his wife run their business. 

‘The opening hours they mention are absolutely wrong. I open from 8am to 8pm,’ he said, adding that the hours are listed on Google.

‘They mentioned there is a lot of traffic in this area. My shop is a very small shop. Most days, only one, two or three people come.’

Mr Joseph added that he only receives a delivery of stock once a month from Sydney: ‘The truck comes here, they drop the pallet. It’s less than five minutes.’

What does contribute to the busy traffic on the street, he said, is that some neighbours own multiple cars which they park along the narrow road.

‘Nowadays, everyone has kids who are growing up (and so they) have three or four cars at their homes,’ Mr Joseph said, adding he only recently bought a second car.

‘We can park only two cars in the garage. For the rest, everyone parks in the narrow street.’

State MLA Marisa Paterson responded to the complaint letter on August 25 and promised to take neighbours’ concerns seriously.

Food businesses in the ACT are required to register with the Health Protection Service and follow safe food handling laws.

Registration is only granted after an official from ACT Health has inspected the premises.

When asked by the Daily Mail whether the business has a Health Protection Service certificate, Mr Joseph said they comply with state government rules and have ‘everything’ in check.

‘I’m just following the ACT government health regulations, so I have the food safety handling supervisor certificate and everything,’ he said.

‘We are safe to run the business.’

The grocer said he last received a routine inspection two weeks ago and has provided the relevant documentation to the inspection officer. He said his business is permitted to operate.

Daily Mail has contacted Paterson for comment regarding the complaint letter.