JUICE BAR EXPANDS
WHOLEFOOD kitchen and superfood bar The Beet Bar has opened a second location at the Medilink Centre, near the Townsville Hospital.
The 70sq m store has already captured a new customer base, with medical staff, patients, hospital visitors, university students and staff, defence personnel and nearby residents frequenting the store during its first week of trade.
The Beet Bar serves up the same delicious offerings as its cafe in the city, with acai bowls, smoothies, raw treats and healthy breakfast and lunch options all on the menu.
Owners and sisters Megan Wessel and Carly Chiesa said the Medilink Centre was the perfect location for their second store.
“It’s been really good and we’re happy with the customer feedback so I think we’re a good fit for the centre,” they said.
“A whole new demographic has been attracted and we’ve found a little niche spot here that our food suits really well.
“We’ve really made an effort to provide good quality produce so we don’t cut corners and we create a lot of things from scratch in store, so even though we’re operating from a small space we’re still trying to create a really nice cafe experience.”
The sisters opened their first store in Flinders St three years ago and earned a loyal following from city goers seeking healthy fast- food options.
The Beet Bar places an emphasis on nutritious food and orders can be phoned in or texted. Many ingredients are organic and sourced locally, such as the Mungalli and Misty Mountains milk, while they make their own almond milk for coffees.
Mungalli biodynamic eggs are used in breakfast dishes, while the breads, buns, croissants and waffles are made by Jean Pierre Patisserie.
The business model has been an astounding success that has seen the eatery flourish at a time when others have been closing and fallen victim to a tough economy.
Ten new staff have been employed in the new store, while the pair employs 20 people across both stores.