That was 31 years ago. That same bag of potatoes would now cost him about $150 as brushed potatoes retail for about $3 a kilogram.
Tony started working with his parents, John and Mary, the day he turned 15 years old.
He now runs the Mackay St shop in conjunction with his family’s gymnasium, which is next door.
He, wife Kelly, and two of the couple’s three children continue to provide Rochester residents with their favourite Friday night take away.
And Tony has not put his prices up, despite being hit with an increase several months ago in the cost of oil and potatoes.
He was responding to our questions about reports from London that fish and chips were set to rise above 10 pound (more than $AUD17) for the first time ever.
But it is not just the increasing price of potatoes that are causing the headaches for businesses like the Roudis’ fish and chip shop, the price of a prominent cooking oil used to fry the family favourite has skyrocketed.
Strong international demand for canola oil and tight global production has seen Australian canola prices reach historic highs this season.
Next year will be 50 years since John and Mary Roudis — now retired and living in Kyabram — opened the Rochester take-away.
“Dad came to Australia first (from Greece) and mum came a few years later. They met in Australia and one week later got married,” Tony said.
The whirlwind romance started in Swan Hill, where they met, and continued in Rochester during the early 1970s.
“I’ve been standing at these cookers since I was in mum’s belly,” Tony said.
When Tony started it was $1 for minimum chips, his commitment to ensuring he maintains the family business’ devoted clientele meaning that figure has only lifted marginally — to $3.
“Chips go up every year in line with everything else. We don’t buy potatoes any more, they come in frozen bags of chips,” he said.
“Back in mum and dad’s day the potatoes were delivered by a contractor who picked the them up direct from the potato farmers,” he said.
Tony said the affordability of fish and chips had ensured the fast-food option maintained its appeal with Rochester families.
“Friday’s are as big as they have ever been,’’ he said.
The entire Roudis family can be found at the fish and chippery on a Friday night, wife Kelly and kids, Antonea, 25, and 20-year-old Aaliyah.
“They work when I need them. The other one is too young (13-year-old Johnny),” Tony said.
The entire family can also be found regularly working next door at the gym, which was opened four years ago.
“We knocked the old building down and started a gym. Rochy didn’t have a gym, it was a way of giving something back,” he said.
The gym has about 200 active members, but in four years has had 1000 people join up.
As for Mary and John, they still enjoy a feed of fish and chips.
“Mum still cooks it at home,” Tony said.
Tony’s twin brother, George, also lives in Kyabram, and Peter, six years his senior, is in Melbourne.
“They all did a stint in here at one time or another,’’ he said.
He said the price of potatoes at supermarkets made it an appealing option to come to the shop and enjoy $5 worth of chips.
“Generations of family members have been coming here, we have a lot of 30-year customers,” he said.
The seven-day-a-week business will no doubt maintain the loyalty of its customers as Tony refuses to bow to pressure and lift his prices.
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