An SIUC graduate student pursuing a second master’s degree says he is willing to commit the time to run a new restaurant that is opening today.

Mojo Bashatwah, a graduate student in mining and engineering from Jordan, is the owner of Mojo’s Cafe, 611 S. Illinois Ave., which opens at noon today. Bashatwah said he is opening a restaurant to have a secure future in the business world.

Bashatwah said when his restaurant opens, he will achieve a dream that began eight years ago.

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I have been saving my money for this restaurant for eight years, he said. I also had to borrow money from my friends.

Bashatwah said he received his first master’s degree in manufacturing systems from SIUC and took business classes during his undergraduate and graduate programs at SIUC. He said he worked in a variety of restaurants for experience.

I have known other graduate students who have run businesses, he said. I know I am in for sleepless nights.

Mojo Cafe will offer a variety of foods with its own blend of spices, opportunities for banquet dinners and free deliveries, Bashatwah said.

He said he will prepare some food with spices that have flavor that Carbondale has not experienced.

I will have an Italian beef sandwich that is like no other in Carbondale, he said.

Bashatwah said he will have help running the restaurant from his two brothers, Raji and Brian, who are both Carbondale residents.

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