Catherine, tell us a bit about yourself and Roland and how Harvest Espresso came to be.
We first lived in Victoria Park in 1997 & have moved to different houses, suburbs & countries since then. We are now back here again & it’s great. Harvest espresso was a little idea in the back of Roland’s head for many years. As a professional chef for over 14 years, it’s a common dream to open & operate your own food business.
We didn’t have a name yet, just a few criteria. One, it had to be on the prime location of Albany Highway in Victoria Park.
Two, it had to be small so we could run it together without much business experience, less risk & suit our very tight budget.
Three, the whole experience had to be authentic, fresh & quality. If we were going to dive (head first) into this business, it had to be something we would personally be proud of.
The concept itself was developed from extensive dining ‘research’ over the years, travel, publications. We wanted to create a cafe that we, ourselves, wanted to visit. Casual, unique & fun. A comfortable space. Be treated with respect & genuine friendly service. Top food & coffee was essential. It all started with sourcing our favorite coffee supplier, Five Senses. We also knew we wanted the food menu to change seasonally.
What changes have you seen in Victoria Park over the years and what ‘vision’ have you got for this great little Community of ours?
The recent development changes in Victoria Park are remarkable. Mostly for the best, as more people are discovering this suburb gem so close to the city. Our cafe is located in the middle of the two Albany Hwy hubs, with an eclectic mix of nearby businesses & properties. But it’s important to get more quality designed & constructed projects in the area. Plus more social spaces & transport infrastructure.
Our vision?
To encourage more independent & interesting small business owners to set up in Victoria Park.
We love the diversity of population plus the great range of eating options. More small, good quality retail shops would be ideal.
The best part so far on the Harvest journey?
We only opened seven months in November 2012! What a ride it has been! Without a doubt, we have loved meeting our customers, many regulars already, & being a small part of their social lives is really rewarding.
We simply enjoy creating good food & drink to share with others.
Watching customers try something new for the first time, and really enjoying it.
Working with our dedicated team in the kitchen & front of house to constantly improve.
Getting to know other local businesses & suppliers.
Victoria Park in three words:
Diverse, optimistic & food
You can follow Harvest Espresso on Facebook here
Photographs – Kat Wray from redeclectic.com.au
