The third time is a charm and a fiesta for one Plainsboro business owner. On Sunday, August 26, the town’s first Mexican food establishment opened at the former Quiznos location in the Plainsboro Plaza Shopping Center. The owner of the new restaurant, Mexican Post Express is Shashi Mittal, a 13-year resident of the town who also runs the Indian Hut restaurant located in the same plaza as well as Big Bazaar Indian groceries at 660 Plainsboro Road.
Mittal holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering at the University of Pune in India. After coming to the United States for his graduate studies, Mittal worked as an SAP and ERP consultant with several Fortune 500 companies including PriceWaterhouse Coopers. At one point in the mid-1990s he lived in Cincinnati, where several of his aunts and uncles live, and Mittal would fly to Philadelphia for work on weekdays.
Working in a consulting role with Bristol Myers-Squibb led Mittal to visit Plainsboro on many occasions. “I moved to Plainsboro because of Bristol Myers-Squibb. We did their SAP implementations (ERP systems).
Mittal found Plainsboro through a real estate agent. “She told me Plainsboro is the only place where property value never goes down; it always goes up,” he says.
In 2003 Mittal started his business investment in Plainsboro with Big Bazaar. Indian Hut became his second business in the town three years ago, and he says he saw a natural progression from selling grocery items to Indian cuisine and ultimately Mexican on-the-go.
After Quiznos’ closed a year ago, Mittal noticed the property as a prime location for fast food. But to match his prime location Mittal conjured up an idea that fits the modern Plainsboro area family or professional: healthy, fresh food and beverages served quick and at a low cost.
Mittal prides himself on offering food to match the healthy lifestyle movement. He is especially excited that Mexican Post grills or sautees most of its dishes instead of deep frying, and that people who want to come in and grab a nutritious fruit or vegetable drink can do so with his variety of fresh juices. Mittal sees the business attracting customers for lunch, dinner, a snack or just a refreshment.
At his grand opening on August 26, Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu, Deputy Mayor Neil Lewis, and WW-P School Board President Hemant Marathe all stopped in to have a bite. Mittal points out that Plainsboro’s township staff worked expeditiously to get him started in business. The whole process, from generating the idea for the business to opening, took less than three months.
Mittal bought a home in Walker Gordon Farms — during its initial phase of construction — when he was a bachelor. He and his wife, Meenu, were married in 1999. They have three children: daughter Nehal, 11, who attends Community Middle School; her sister, Esha, 8; and the baby, one and a half year-old Nav Mittal.
Mittal’s father and mother now live in Plainsboro and help their son in some of his business operations. Growing up in Gurgaon, Mittal’s father was a sales tax officer for the government. His mother was a housewife. Mittal’s younger brother has much in common with him, as a former IT consultant for large companies who now owns restaurants in Exton and Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Meenu Mittal also worked in IT as a computer consultant.
In addition to his duties at his three business establishments, Mittal recently became a trustee of the town’s new library. He said he is enthused by the learning opportunities residents have.
Mexican Post Express, 10 Schalks Crossing Road, Plainsboro, 609-936-1000. 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
