Ghulam Bombaywala

Ghulam Mohammed "Bombay" Bombaywala is a Pakistani-American restaurateur in Houston. In 1999, Magaret L. Briggs of the Houston Press wrote that Bombaywala was "well-known" and "perhaps most famous for sharing his rags-to-riches tale with Oprah's audience". In 2006 Edward Hegstrom of the Houston Chronicle wrote "Bombaywala's rise to success is practically legend in Houston."

Bombaywala was born and raised in Karachi. His family name originated from India, where his parents came from.

He attended primary and secondary school in Karachi, first going to the Unique English School, then Church Mission School (CMS), then the Government National College, where he got an intermediate school diploma or an "Inter".

At age 17, in 1973 he arrived in Houston on a student visa. On arrival, he had fewer than $50 ($269.75 according to inflation) in cash. That year he began studying at South Texas Junior College. After arriving, he began working as a busboy. At first he had started a chain of convenience stores after saving enough funds to do so. He ultimately earned an associate's degree from the University of Houston–Downtown College. Bombaywala was part-owner of ten convenience stores and four liquor stores in 1982.

With his saved funds, he bought an Italian restaurant in Montrose, Michelangelo's. At one time Michelangelo's had refused to employ Bombaywala for a busboy position due to his low English fluency. He had also established a restaurant chain, Marco's. He later bought partial ownership of James Coney Island and other restaurant chains.

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