CRAVE Specialty Coffee on Elizabeth Street, Croydon, has recently opened their doors. We caught up with owner Dion Timpano to talk about his passion for everything coffee and opening CRAVE.
Bursting with enthusiasm, we quickly discover that Dion is a business owner with an abundance of ideas and a flair for understanding the importance of location and getting noticed.
When the property on the corner of Elizabeth and Robert Street in Croydon came available, Dion quickly jumped on the chance to create his vision for a café that he felt would enhance what was already on offer around Queen Street.
With a blank wall on the Robert Street side, Dion had a vision for creating a mural that would enable his café to get noticed and attract new customers as well as add to the vibrancy of Queen Street precinct. So, he contacted Council to see if we could help him realise his vision.
Receiving Façade to Street Funding
Providing samples of mural artist Fabbio Timpano’s artwork and securing the OK from the landlord, Dion successfully applied for the City of Charles Sturt #ShopLocal Facade to Street Grant. The mural fitted in with the Council’s façade improvement guidelines and is a good example of how a business owner can make improvements to their façade to attract new customers and add value to the neighbourhood.
These grants are provided by Council to encourage growth and innovation opportunities for local businesses.
Dion and his father have been busy the past few months updating the interior and exterior, painting and installing fixtures. The café has been open for a couple of weeks, Dion telling us that it was a huge confidence boost and relief when on opening day they were slammed with people wanting coffee, making over 200 coffees in just a few hours.
For the Love of Coffee
Dion knows a great deal about coffee, having worked many years for a Sydney based coffee roaster as their SA Territory Manager, making him a bona fide coffee connoisseur. For most of us, we look for that caffeine pick me up to get us started in the morning, however there is a growing trend in the café landscape for Barista’s to pay more attention to the delicate, yet complex flavours and aroma of high end coffee beans. We discover making coffee is a fine art, one that CRAVE Speciality Coffee is committed to.
The coffee industry is continuously evolving and Dion is on top of every new trend in the world of coffee, and as he explains: “ sharing my love for coffee is something I’m excited about opening CRAVE."
Dion’s friendly approach is evident and if you want a new coffee experience in the west side of town, pop on into CRAVE and allow Dion and his Barista team to take you on a coffee enlightenment journey.
The Pour Over
Why not try CRAVE’s “Pour Over” - a manual brewing method and recently rediscovered specialty coffee trend, (noting however this technique has been commonly used in Europe since the 1900s and even longer in other parts of the world.
This brewing technique has gained recent interest because it accentuates intricate flavours compared to other methods. Dion has hand selected unique high-quality beans from all corners of the coffee growing world to create a true coffee tasting experience. Even watching the Barista undertake the slow and very precise brewing process is fascinating.
At the centre of the café stands a stylish espresso machine, resplendent like those seen in a deluxe coffee house in Italy. The design of this impressive machine reflects the décor of the café; sleek, modern and refined.
Dion explains: “We wanted to create a local vibe at the café, for families to come and feel relaxed. I love the mural and what Fabbio has created and I’ve already received lots of interest in my business because of it. As for the interior, I’ve kept the décor classic as I wanted a clean look.”
Why the City of Charles Sturt?
Dion recently set up home in West Croydon with his wife and young family and fell in love with the trendy neighbourhood and community vibe of the area.
This is his first venture into the hospitality sector and tells us: "There is so much to learn, being new to this type of business, I must admit I was a bit green about how much planning is involved."
Dion is determined to make coffee the focal point for his business, as well as provide food that reflects his respect for high quality honest food.
At the beginning Dion had big plans regarding the food menu, but quickly learnt that this had to be rethought, whilst opening the café and slowly gaining a following of regular customers.
"I had to scale back my ideas," he said.
"I had to take a step back and learn that I needed to walk before I could run. I’ve got a lot of energy for the business, but I now know that I need to be aware of what is achievable given some of the current building limitations."
Are there any areas as a business owner that Dion would like to improve?
"Definitely, this is a big learning experience and I have a long way to go," he said.
"One area that I knew I needed help with was marketing, getting social and getting my brand out there. I have always known that this is a weak point for me, that’s why I reached out to the business team at Charles Sturt."
Business Support Grant
With the support from Council and utilising the Business Support Grant, Dion has been able to access one of our Business Support Advisors to create a digital marketing strategy and access training in social media to help grow his business through digital channels.
With almost 700 Instagram followers in less than a few weeks, we think Dion and the CRAVE Speciality Coffee team are off to a great start.
Any business advice, especially for new business owners?
"Just get in and do it, be realistic and expect to have challenges, that way you can keep positive even when its stressful," he said.
"Also reach out for support, it's been amazing what support I’ve received from family, local businesses, Council and even people walking past the café.
Dion expands: "Also think about what support you might individually need, for me I love to chat with people, but being social online it’s not my thing so I knew I needed to get help with this. I guess it’s about knowing your strengths and weaknesses and knowing where and when to reach out for support."
We wish Dion, family and staff all the best with this new business in the City of Charles Sturt.
Find out more about the City of Charles Sturt's grants to support local businesses