New café offers spacious ambiance

The spaciousness of Pure Café sets it apart. Owner Angela Clements says she wants customers to feel comfortable in the modern and upmarket café in Kaka St, Whangarei.

The café features in a new building that was completed at the end of July.

“We signed the lease two days before the lockdown announcement. It was stressful but exciting,’’ she says.

Angela designed the fitout with the help of Dave Fisher Design.

The result is a fresh and modern décor with huge picture windows and plenty of space. The polished concrete floors and black-andwhite décor creates a clean and modern ambiance. Seats are well spaced and there is also some seating outside to take advantage of sunny days.

“We wanted people to feel like they had lots of room around them and lots of space for private conversations.’’

Angela is no stranger to running a café, having had a successful business in Taupo.

This new venture is a chance to put into practice all her experience and “do it my way”.

“We put a lot of effort into designing the kitchen. I’ve been cooking for 12 years so I knew how I wanted the kitchen set up in the most efficient design. I only do about 6000 to 8000 steps a day,’’ she says.

Angela is happiest in the kitchen creating fresh and interesting meals to suit a wide variety of dietary needs.

“We have something to cater for everyone and use only fresh and local ingredients. We make everything ourselves.

“Now it is more important than ever to support local businesses,’’ she says.

Her staff, Sophie Duckmanton and Gemma Harris, make sure customers are well looked after and made to feel welcome. Helping them is part-time staff member Kasey Hood. “We’ve already got regulars and there is plenty of passing traffic. Kaka St has a lot of new developments, including the Ministry of Education which is sharing the other part of the new building.

“We get lots of business off the street, which is great. We have really appreciated the support of our customers, especially starting a new business in these uncertain times.’’

The all-important coffee is Altura and the tea options are from Tea Total. Stoneware keep cups are available for purchase and these attractive mugs are proving popular with customers.

“It’s all part of our sustainable and lowwaste philosophy. We do our best to only have one small bucket of rubbish every two days as we recycle and repurpose everything we can.’’

Angela keeps the needs of busy business customers in mind, with a good range of salads and cabinet items that are ready to go and food orders are delivered quickly to tables. There is also a good range of sweet treats.

Customers can also buy the Tea Total range to have at home, and items from Cocavo’s Avospa range and Doubtless Bay Botanicals are also available for purchase.

Artwork on the walls includes modern dried flower arrangements and wooden artworks.

“Everything is from local artists.’’ Pure Café is open from Monday to Friday between 7am and 3pm.