Old favourite in new shop
Dessert business moves into Malop St
QUIRKY laneway favourite Armageddon Cake has moved into a prominent central Geelong site vacated almost a year ago when the previous lessee claimed to be victim of the Green Spine project.
Armageddon Cake launched last night at the former Tomi Lounge in Malop St.
The move is a major step up for owner Jacqui McKenzie, who established her retro-style evening dessert bar in McLarty Place eight years ago.
Ms McKenzie said the new premises had double the seating capacity, three times the space and four-times the size of kitchen.
”It’s exciting. We are looking forward to producing more cakes and also move into the savoury side as well,” Ms McKenzie said.
Tomi Lounge closed in December last year with owner Caron Missen saying the Malop St works were to blame for a major downturn in her business.
Ms McKenzie said the Green Spine project, now completed in that section of Malop St, was part of the attraction of moving into the expanded premises.
“The Green Spine makes it more aesthetically pleasing for the customer,” she said.
“We’ll have some outdoor seating for them to be able to enjoy it.”
Ms McKenzie said she had noticed an increase in the number of office workers who were being drawn along Malop St when the sun was tech and communication services stocks such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Netflix.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 180.43 points, or 0.68 per out. In welcoming Armageddon Cake to the shopping centre, the centre manager for Knight Frank Australia, Sandy Kelly Burton, said the centre was starting to see an increase in the number of pedestrians using the new space, which was also reflected in the centre pedestrian numbers.
“The road closure not only impacted on the businesses on Malop Street but the centre as a whole,” Ms Kelly Burton said.
“Feedback from retailers indicate they are seeing an improvement in the number of customers visiting the centre but not quite at the same level as prior to the road and pavement works.
“School holidays are always a busy time at Market Square and the CBD generally and these school holidays are no different.
“Trade has been busy over the school holiday period and we have experienced an increase in participation rates this year compared to last year.”
Armageddon Cake, which has plans to obtain a liquor licence, will reproduce the distinctive style of its McLarty Place shop and popular mural mascot Barnaby will also be featured in new works by artist Gigi Geordes.
“We are trying to keep a bit of the retro feel,” she said. “We have some lounge areas we are going to theme.”
She said to be successful in a very competitive environment, it was important to have a point of difference.
“That is why we make everything in-house. We make all our cakes, all our sauces, everything you get on your plate is made in-house,”
The same approach will be applied to a savoury range which will include ready-toeat frittatas, sausage rolls and salads.
The former site of Armageddon Cake in McLarty AAP Place will now be used as a function space.
The move is expected to require 10 new staff to be added to the existing workforce of 15.
Armageddon Cake will be open from 8am to 11pm Monday to Friday, 10am-11pm on Saturday and noon-11pm on Sunday.