Toast of the town: Joel Raglus and Leon McAsey toast the opening of the Gargarro Botanic Gardens Cafe last Friday. They have signed a three-year contract with Girgarre Development Group to manage the cafe.
New Gargarro Botanic Gardens Cafe operators Joel Raglus and Leon McAsey expected a big response to their opening weekend of business, but nothing could have prepared them for the “sell out’’ they experienced between Friday and Sunday.
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By the end of business on Friday the cafe had produced something like 200 meals, even before opening for breakfast on Saturday and the Girgarre markets on Sunday.
They were forced to place a Facebook announcement on Sunday to announce they would be closed on Monday— just three days after opening for the first time — due to running out of coffee, milk and food.
Live music from Glenda Edwards and Maddi Walker accompanied the dining of the business’s new patrons, who had waited since the flood events of October to take possession of the business.
They were due to be open by late October, but were impacted by the rain events.
In their first few days of business they attracted visitors from as far afield as Canberra and even Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell called in for a coffee.
The business is operating with two chefs and five catering staff and is open six days a week (closed Monday), from 7.30am. From Tuesday until Thursday they will be open until 5pm, while Friday to Sunday the cafe will be open later.
There will be an official launch of the Botanic Gardens in April, which the unique double-storey building will host.
Mr Raglus said the business was using local suppliers, including Cadells, GV Dairy Distributors and Fitzgeralds Meats.
“We are also excited that both our chefs have been sourced locally. Joe Perry is from Kyabram and Sandra Basic is from Girgarre,“ Mr Raglus said.
Mr Raglus, in understated fashion, said the business had enjoyed a “great start’’ and his staff had ”handled it okay’’.
"People are loving the upstairs area and we will be available for weddings, funerals, engagement parties — we will do it all,“ he said.
The partnership has made a three-year commitment to the cafe, with further years available on the contract they signed with the Girgarre Development Group.
“We’d love to see people come and enjoy the new cafe, in particular in the morning when the sounds of the cockatoos are just terrific,” he said.
Opening day: Gargarro Botanic Gardens cafe had an extraordinary opening weekend, forcing it to close just three days after opening due to lack of stock.
