Quirky cafe ready for new owner

A quirky Palmerston North cafe is on the market, as its owner contemplates the quiet life of retirement.

The grapevine-covered Joseph Street Kitchen, named after the street it operates from, has become a favourite spot for many.

Now, owner Michael Hills feels it is time to move on.

After a lifetime of work and nine years diligently building his cafe, he wants to be just as dedicated to building a life of quiet contemplation as a gardner, and exploring the coast. ‘‘I’m 66 now and there’s other things to do that are important. I want to become time-rich, instead of work-rich.’’

Nestled in a semi-industrial part of the city, the Joseph Street Kitchen’s earliest customers considered it the best-kept secret in Palmerston North. ‘‘It was an oddball place to have a cafe, so it wasn’t well known [at first],’’ Hills said. But it was his neighbourhood and he wanted to create a welcoming atmosphere.

The former builder said the key to an operation was efficiency and having the right team.

Hill said he loved everything about his cafe, from serving food to eating it. He particularly loves banter with customers.

He hired people who shared his gregarious enthusiasm and after a few years, the cafe’s reputation was spread through word of mouth. Now, it pays to book ahead to beat the lunch rush.

Hills set himself on a firm trajectory to retirement two years ago to make sure he followed through. Although, he now finds himself noticing all the things he always meant to do with the cafe, tempting him to stick around to see them through.

But since bringing a real estate agent in to list the business for sale, he’s been focused on preparing it for a new owner.

‘‘When you do that, you’ve crossed the Rubicon ... It’s like selling your favourite car. You polish it up, get it looking good, and you take another few spins in it and really enjoy again while you can.’’