Cafes / st george
Bakery and cafe move under one roof
It was a generous helping of community support that enabled The Orchard team to realise an ambition to bring their offerings together under one roof.
“We need to say a big thank you to the community, they really helped and do everyday,” says Joel Viljoen, the owner of the Orchard cafe and bakery.
Joel and his team launched a Crowdfunder campaign to raise the funds needed to convert the top floor of the building, a former chapel opposite Summerhill Primary School on Clouds Hill Road, into a bakery.
is needed now More than ever
With the new site now fully operational, the breads, cakes and pastries that were formerly made in a premises across the road are baked just above the cafe, where the wooden countertops are laden with the fresh goods.
It’s an early start each day for Joel Viljoen and Abby Taylor in the new Orchard bakery on Clouds Hill Road
The move has enabled the Orchard team to keep diversifying what they do, with an ever-changing menu, but it was ever-rising prices, energy hikes and then a break-in at the bakery that “pushed the business to the brink” and prompted the relocation.
“Prices were going up and rent was going up. We had the scaffolding up [in front of the bakery] for nearly a year and that really affected sales,” explains Joel.
“Then the break in happened and we just thought let’s get moving.”
The baker, along with head of pastry Abby Taylor, starts work at 4am on weekdays and 3am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Joel says that bringing everything they do under one roof has opened up new opportunities and will create new jobs, with plans to recruit in the near future.
The Orchard bakery and cafe are now under one roof
The coffee machine in the cafe will be moved to make more countertop space and customers can expect to find this laden with a variety of baked goods, especially at weekends.
The Orchard milk float, laden with freshly baked goods, will also be out and about around the city.
“We will change things up,” adds Joel.
“When the milk float goes out, that will have more new stuff and on weekends the counter will be loaded with new things.”
The Orchard is now open from 8am-4pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am-4pm on weekends.
All photos: Ellie Pipe
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