Trio to the fore to give cafe owner a break
GEELONG’S Little Green Corner cafe will continue to operate with the values that have made it one of the most sustainable cafes in the country while its owner takes a 10-month break.
After building the unconventional cafe over the past four years, it was put on the market last year as Hugh Whitehead planned a 10month trip around Australia with wife Claire and their fiveyear-old twins.
“Even when I put it to sale, it wasn’t that I fell out of love with the business or that it wasn’t doing well, it’s just that I didn’t want to think about it while we have this family experience this year,” Mr Whitehead said.
Being upfront with customers and staff about his plans for 2019 led to a different solution being found for the Little Ryrie St business, which is dedicated to its core philosophies of serving simple, local, sustainable food and drinks.
Mr Whitehead said when Chris Welsh, the cafe’s chef, Jaz Hobson, who had operated her own cafe, and Skye Campbell, who had worked in a leading restaurant, came forward to run the business for a year, he had confidence their complementary skills were the right fit.
“The values they hold dear are consistent with those that the business is built on,” he said.
The result means he will keep the business while the extended leave will also prove its inherent value.
“This will also show us is if our business is genuinely financially viable,” Mr Whitehead said.
He said he was also looking forward to coming back with new ideas after a year off with “clear air”.
The Whiteheads leave at the start of next month, returning at Christmas.