Taking over a rundown cake shop in 1980, Jim and wife Jan firstly opened a fresh oyster bar and then expanded to offer seafood but after business took a battering due to a contaminated oyster scandal elsewhere in Sydney, they re-purposed the business as a cafe in 1996.
Specialising in ‘real’ hamburgers, beautiful sandwiches, cakes, snacks and cold and hot drinks including “the best coffee in world made by Amanti that give profits to poor communities”, Jim said his wife and two sons, John and Jason, have enjoyed the support of wonderful customers over the past four decades.
“Our customers used to be Australian-born, then came the Koreans and other Asians and now we have many customers from the Nepalese and Indian communities,” Jim said.
“They have all been incredibly loyal, especially during covid when we kept our doors open.
“Many of our early Australian customers who had retired to the Central Coast and other places out of Sydney, still come back to see their doctors and make sure they always drop in for lunch or a coffee to say hi.
“We have been very fortunate and I’m very grateful to our customers and to have enjoyed such a happy business life in Lidcombe.”
But for now, the 67-year-old is looking forward to putting his feet up for a while and spending time with the grandchildren.
“I can wait to take them fishing and to the movies,” he said.
