Latest update May 20th, 2026 12:35 AM
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‘Big Smith’ launches Soup N Tings at seawall food court
(Kaieteur News) – Longtime journalist, Leroy Smith from the Big Smith News Watch media outlet is trying his hand in the food industry, officially launching Soup N Tings last Friday at the food court along the Seawall Bandstand in Kingston, Georgetown.
Smith, 40, of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, had always thought of getting into the food business but was always trying to figure out which would be the right spot for him. In an interview with The Waterfalls, he shared that his interest in part came about because of his best friend, Neville, who is a chef.
Leroy Smith (centre) with members of his staff.
The business, which will only be open during weekdays for now (from 10 am to 8 pm), offers soup and broth (Guyanese Creole ‘braff’) along with natural drinks like cane juice, fruit juice and coconut water. Heading west from Camp Street, it is the first stall along the food court. As small as the space may look, he said it cost him roughly $4.5 million to get the operation going.
Reflecting on his efforts to launch the business, Smith recalled that he initially thought of selling out of his minibus but that persons advised him against this and urged him to find a spot. When plans didn’t work out for a space he pursued in Enmore, he decided to call First Lady Arya Ali for assistance in getting a caravan. “She asked what I needed it for and said there was a spot on the seawall that I can apply for and they will consider it. So, I applied and got it,” he shared.
The Soup N Tings Stall at the seawalls.
Further, the closure of Stabroek News earlier this year reminded him that he had to work harder at keeping his media house open. “One of the reasons that really pushed me to work on it in 2026 is the closure of Stabroek News. I have a media house and we struggle to get advertisements. We have ads which were cut from us, we have agencies that call to say they no longer advertising,” he reflected. Adding “I don’t want to close my media house. I employed seven young people with me, so I decided to get into another form of business to support my media house because I want to be able to still bring news to people.”
Smith said he will never opt to close his media house, even if he gets into a tight spot and has to continue it on his own. He is optimistic that his new venture will work out and help to support him further. “I am a pusher and a fighter. If I want something, I have to get what I want. If I put my mind to it, I have to get it,” he expressed, adding, “I am very happy, satisfied; feel very accomplished and am now looking to see what other areas I can get into.
Once this is able to operate independently of me having to be here every day, I am moving on to something else.”
Smith is advising other young people to identify ideas that are practical, workable, and easy to develop, noting that there are individuals who genuinely want to see youths succeed and are willing to offer support when approached with good ideas. However, he said that young people must also be able to effectively present and market themselves and their ideas in order to gain that support.
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