IT'S "getting busier all the time" at a cafe at Westpoint Shopping Centre that is coming up to two years in business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Café West replaced Beck's Bakery in the Windradyne complex in August 2019, when redevelopment works at Westpoint were still under way.
Owner and managing director Hamish Thompson said he is very happy with how well the café has done in the time since.
He is also the managing director of the Westpoint IGA and has another three IGAs in the Central West region, though Café West is his only cafe.
"We took it on originally because the Beck's Bakery was closing down and there wouldn't be some sort of coffee or café offer here in the centre and we didn't want that to happen, so we just bought the shell of the business from them," Mr Thompson said.
"Amanda, the manager here, has been heavily involved. We've had a bit of change of staff recently and that's gone well. We're gradually building and it's getting busier all the time."
FLASHBACK: Strong start for expanded IGA Westpoint
The new business venture started less than one year before COVID hit, but was able to continue turning over money during the period of tight restrictions by providing takeaway options.
As well as having full access to the IGA shelves, Café West receives supplies from Central West businesses.
"The girls over there are self-sufficient mostly and they use [IGA] as a giant pantry, which makes it a lot easier for them to get the food and supplies," Mr Thompson said.
"We do get pies and stuff brought in from Dubbo Earlyrise [Baking] ... They also supply rolls and a few other things and we also get a lot of stuff through Blayney Foods.
"The main supplier of coffee, of course, is Fish River Roasters, which is over here on Corporation Avenue."
Mr Thompson is hopeful that new businesses will join the Westpoint complex soon.
"We would like some other shops in the centre to add to the mix of businesses and make it more of a one-stop-shop," he said.
"It's going well, though, it's getting better."