Grit, determination gives Lagoons Cafe new lease on life
WHEN it comes to surviving the tough times, one cafe owner reckons he has the recipe to ride it out.
"Pure and simple: just hard work," Cliff Stocks firmly answers.
"It's all about determination and not giving up."
The owner of Lagoons Cafe in Mackay's Botanic Gardens jumped at the chance to take over the business just over a year ago and hasn't looked back.
Mr Stocks has just signed a two-year lease with a further two-year option and has big plans for the cafe's future - including a name change.
"Businesses have to look at their ways of doing things; we're constantly reviewing ourselves and if things don't work, we change it," he said.
As well as hosting high teas, weddings and functions, Mr Stocks also prides himself on trying new things to serve up.
"I smoke my own hams, meat, sausages, mussels and other things over ironbark," he said.
The cafe employs eight core staff that now includes Mr Stocks' mum Cavil, who is chuffed at her son's path to cafe owner-manager.
"Cliff took home ec at school, much to his mechanic father's disgust," Mrs Stocks laughed.
"That's not what boys
were meant to do... but he was very good at it. He also wasn't bad at sewing a few nice shirts either!"
Pride comes through in her voice as she talks about her son's passion taking him places like Hayman and Hamilton Islands and the busy food scene of Sydney.
"He did his apprenticeship with MRAEL and then went to the islands and the big smoke," Mrs Stocks said.
"But then he came back to what he preferred closer to home. It's a quieter pace - some days maybe not so much."
From the hustle and bustle of Sydney, moving back to run his own catering business out of the Buffalo Club and now running the Lagoon Cafe, Mr Stocks is happy to be home closer to family.
"It can be a bit of a challenge (working with his mum); sometimes I have to remember she's an employee as well," he said.
"Then I think 'she's my mum, so I better not be too much of a bugger'."
When asked if she was proud of everything her son has done, Mrs Stocks smiled.
"I am proud. Even within his own personal development as he's overcome a few challenges," she said. "But this is his biggest adventure. He's certainly going to make the most of it."
Win a free lunch!
Lagoons Cafe is on the hunt for a new business name - and they're offering a lunch for two for whoever picks the winning name!
Send your ideas to lagoonscafe@optusnet.com.au
Source: Daiy Mercury, Casandra Garvey, July 31st 2015
Originally published as: Grit, determination gives Lagoons Cafe new lease on life
