Shipping container cafe opens
HUSBAND and wife team Rani and Christine Ousman will be careful not to step on each other’s toes when they open a cafe in a shipping container at Alexandria this week.
Space will be at a premium at The Grind & Co which opens this week in Ricketty St’s Heritage Business Park.
“We were looking for venues in industrial parks, with some local foot traffic but nowhere to eat nearby,” says caterer Christine who took time off to have twins. “I wanted to drop it (the container) in a parking lot and build the area around it.
“I sent (the idea) to quite a few developers and building management companies, and someone finally took the bait and we had a chat and it was Goodman,” she says of their site which will eventually be between two yet-to-be built warehouse and office block.
“I felt like there was a lack of places that offered great quality food that was ready to go and if it was ready to go it was lacking in flavours and options,” she says.
“There is really nowhere around and The Grounds is at least an eight-minute drive away.”
Her barista husband Rani, chef Renae Clinch and barista Marcella Assayad will operate in the tight space, offering locally roasted coffee plus sandwiches, salads and Arabic bread wraps with summer barbecues also part of the plan.
“Obviously we are going to have our trial and tribulations but once we find our groove it should work smoothly,” she says.
Source: The Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2015
Originally published as: Shipping container cafe opens
