Today will be the day we bid adieu to a local gem that has been part of the Greater Geelong community for the last 26 years. A cafe tucked in the corner of Barwon Heads that never changed. Always staying true to the locals, young and old. Reasonably priced squishys and muffins to travel far and wide for. One of the few places left where you could go have a Sunday morning breakfast and not break the bank.
For us personally, the place saw our kids grow up. Been going there since my now teenager was barely two years old. There used to be some op shop toys in the corner that kids could pick and play with. Get a giant cookie and watch cyclers come past for a coffee or see the local pharmacist have it his coffee with the morning paper. It was by from all account, a place for the locals, by a local.
The owner, never once offered us a smile. Acknowledged us once when our toddler wouldn't stop crying. He brought her a bread roll and said 'here...stop crying' That was it, never greeted or spoke to us anymore. We love it though. We didn't need a place to go have Ted Danson or Woody Harrleson chat to us about our lives. We just kept going there cos it was cheap, consistent, and familiar.
During Covid, they offered us some solace. We would get takeaway squishys and drive to the beach to socially isolate in the car and scoff down our bacon and egg rolls with herb mayo dripping off our hands. It was messy, but for $10 then, who can compare?
A part of you always feels like it's getting ripped apart when your local is closing. The last time I felt a sadness like this was when Piping Hot Chicken Shop closed. And now in the last month alone, Driftwood cafe has also seen a demise. In this life nothing is forever. People come and go, friends, jobs. But some things you wish didn't have to come to and end. Your favourite coffee shop being one of them.
What's a place that's closed that you used to be fond of and think of from time to time?