Success of top cafes sparks chain reaction
BOUTIQUE Gold Coast eateries are following the path paved by food giants McDonald’s and Starbucks and building mini empires.
A number of the city’s better known foodie brands are using their success to open spin-off ventures.
This week, Background Barista opened at Mermaid Beach, the second cafe inspired by Barefoot Barista’s success at Palm Beach.
Cafe royalty Ursula Watts, the brains behind Bam Bam Bakehouse, Paddock Bakery and Neptune Kiosk, will expand her foodie empire to NSW with a new venue, Cubby Bakehouse, slated to open at Chinderah in a few months.
Ms Watts said the success of Paddock and Bam Bam allowed her and partner Ben to look at additional ventures.
“We definitely owe thanks to Instagram’s boundless virtual playground with people sharing our story through images,” she said.
“And although we work on bricks and mortar stores, our online presence has doubled in 12 months.
“Bam Bam pastry is sold online and due to the crazy high demand we are selling out online before the day has begun so people can secure stock. This is a new world to us.”
Ms Watts said the “constant treadmill of wanting to stay at the top” kept Gold Coast restaurateurs thinking creatively.
“Ben and I don’t copy or try to be something we’re not. We do our own thing and try to create an experience,” she said.
Liz Ennis, owner of Barefoot, Borough and now Background Barista, said the expansion of smaller “local” cafes was driven by savvy Gold Coasters wanting quality fare.
“Expansion is a reaction to what the consumers are asking for,” she said. “They want to find a space that’s their ‘local’, where they become return customers (and) it gives us as business owners the confidence to grow.
“Gold Coasters expect high-quality food everywhere they go now and I think that’s really difficult for a major chain to deliver.”
The popularity of healthy cafe Social Brew at Burleigh Heads led Mike Dowling to open a second outlet at Paradise Point on the other side of the city.
“Like anything, you need to get the name out there,” Mr Dowling said. “It’s all about the brand and no matter what you do, you have to look after your brand.
“We’ve served more than 24,000 people since opening in August ... a lot of people had heard of us before from Burleigh.”