From Post Office to Cocktails: How Sahil Dalvi Built a Business Empire Right Here in Our Community!

Ten years ago, Sahil Dalvi opened his first business in Poundbury—a Post Office and convenience shop. Today, he's become something of a local legend, running not one, not two, but three thriving businesses that serve our community daily. You might know him from collecting your parcels and grabbing your morning milk and bread from the Buttermarket Stores & Post Office, taking your little ones for a play session at 100 Giggles, or enjoying an evening cocktail at the Crossroads cocktails & tapas bar.

A Perfect Match: Poundbury and Business

What drew Sahil to Poundbury was its unique design philosophy. "You have residential areas as well as offices and retail units all within walking distance," he explains. "From our business point of view, it covers every section needed to make it a success." This integrated approach to community living has allowed his businesses to flourish in ways that traditional high street locations simply couldn't match.

Each of his ventures fills a crucial gap in our local market: the Post Office remains the only one in Poundbury, while his soft play area caters specifically to under-5s—a rarity in an industry that typically focuses on older children, and his cocktail and tapas bar brings something equally special to our evenings, offering over 20 unique cocktail creations made with local ingredients rather than just the classic drinks you'd find elsewhere.

More Than Just Business

What sets Sahil apart isn't just his entrepreneurial spirit—it's his commitment to our community and environment. His businesses prioritise sustainability, using recycled and biodegradable products wherever possible, and he actively encouraged reusable bag use long before it became mainstream. During the challenges of recent years, he's adapted and grown while maintaining his focus on personal connections with customers: "I really enjoy working in all three different places as I get to talk about everything from sports to politics to parenthood," Whether he's behind the bar mixing a new cocktail or helping you with a parcel, that personal touch makes the difference.

Looking Ahead

Sahil is planning exciting new events for the café and tapas bar, including quiz nights, live music evenings, and bingo nights, alongside fresh food and cocktail menus. His advice to other potential business owners in Poundbury? "Please be patient—it's a very different model to high streets and malls. You've got to connect to people personally, and then word of mouth starts to spread."

Supporting Our Local Champion

Sahil's message to our community is simple: "Please use your local shop, post office, soft play, café and tapas & cocktail bar." In a world of online shopping and chain stores, having someone who genuinely cares about serving our community is something special. Next time you need to post a parcel, grab some essentials, entertain the little ones, or enjoy an evening out, remember that you're not just supporting a business—you're supporting a neighbour who's invested his heart and soul into making Poundbury a better place to live.

Follow Sahil's businesses on social media and help spread the word about what makes our community special. After all, as Sahil says, once word of mouth gets out, "you have a strong community supporting you."

The LovePoundbury Community Association celebrates local businesses that make our neighborhood thrive. Know someone we should feature? Get in touch! To check out many more local businesses, go to: https://www.lovepoundbury.org/shopping-eating-services