Kahma Coffee moves into the old Funk Lounge as new owners reveal plans for exciting cocktail bar

A young mother of two has transformed a simple doorway on the main street of Mount Gambier into a new pit-stop cafe, with exciting plans for the iconic upstairs space.

The old Funk Lounge Mount Gambier. Picture: Supplied

Another vacant lot in Mount Gambier’s CBD has been filled, with a new cafe opening its window to residents last week.

Mount Gambier’s latest coffee offering, Kahma Coffee, has moved into the iconic Funk Lounge, converting the entrance into its pit-stop cafe.

Owner Tia Loulas’s journey began when she first started selling her doughnuts through Soma Espresso Bar, who opened their doors last year.

With popularity taking off, Ms Loulas said she wanted to try branching out into her own brick and mortar spot while expanding into the coffee side.

She has named the business in honour of her two daughters, Kahtia, 4 and Marsha 2.

Though Mount Gambier has a relatively small population, Ms Loulas said the regions growth has continued to support its coffee culture.

Tia Loulas introduces Kahma Coffee to Mount Gambier. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“I think Mount Gambier is booming and I think like that’s why there is lots of little places opening up, because people do support each other and there is room to go round,” she said.

With the upstairs space currently unused, Ms Loulas said she was considering converting the space into a cocktail bar.

“Our idea is to still use the entrance here — everything we've done here is able to be moved quite easily,” she said.

“Everything’s still exactly the same apart the features around the outside.

“The signs can all be changed and switched over — the doughnut stand you can literally lift it and move it.”

Tia Loulas introduces Kahma Coffee to Mount Gambier. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Ms Loulas said the bar would have a “chill” speak-easy type of vibe.

“You can come there for a casual drink or you can come up with a group of friends for a birthday.”

Ms Loulas said she was collaborating with Bar With No Name and was hoping to have something more concrete planned in the coming months.

At 29, Ms Loulas said it’s a tough job to juggle her many hats, as the young mum is also helping her partner run Wine Wave — an organic cider and wine label.

“We both get about four hours of sleep,” she said.