Wine and cocktail crew’s crazy idea secret ingredient to local success

This Hervey Bay wine and cocktail bar has stayed ahead of the game with the help of some imagination, drive to survive, and pure local love.

This Hervey Bay wine and cocktail bar has stayed ahead of the game with the help of some imagination, drive to survive, and pure local love. Pictured is Jemima Nash from the neighbouring Tres Salsas. Picture: Isabella Magee

All it took was an idea.

An idea shaped by a commitment to support local businesses and customer satisfaction.

Wine and Cocktail Bar 19XO, located at 414B the Esplanade, Torquay, is sharing the local love, collaborating with nearby local food businesses in the area to create something “never seen before”on the Coast.

Since opening in June last year amid the COVID-19 fallout, co-owner Damian Estreich and has team have been constantly evolving, willing to adapt to new situations.

19XO co-owner Damien Estreich told the Chronicle he was thinking about how he could “help (his) patrons better support their local small business community” when the idea to allow customers to eat meals from other businesses while drinking at his bar, came to him.

19X0 is serving up like never before, giving customers the option to order from other restaurants as they sit in 19XO, drinking a few.

“We are serving food from four local restaurants – Tres Salsas Mexican Cantina, Echo Alpha Tango, Kathmandu Tandoori Kitchen and Paolo’s Pizza Bar – where customers can order from 19XO and have their meals delivered here while having a few drinks,” Damien said.

“These people we’re partnering with are small family-run businesses, and we’re in a time where it’s more important than ever to curate and help people make good decisions.

19XO Wine and Cocktail bar co-owners Geoffery Bouvier and Damien Estreich. Picture: Isabella Magee

Deciding 19XO is a business they’d like to keep focused on drinks, Damien said this was a great way to have the best of both worlds.

“People would love to stay, we have the finest spirits and international offerings in the entire region and fantastic wines … and then people want a full meal,” he said.

“If our patrons want to support other people, we will openly (refer them) – that's where we came up with the strategy.

“I'm more than happy to share our successes and be a community in hospitality because it's like a little small family … if we just had a little bit more of that all around the world, wouldn‘t it be a better place?”

Damien said Tres Salsas Mexican Cantina has been “really quick” delivering 19XO’s orders to their bar. Picture: Isabella Magee

Tres Salsas Mexican Cantina owner Jemima Nash said the menu sharing service was “something a bit different” and it had been received well by customers so far.

“I haven’t seen this in Hervey Bay before, it gives variety to customers, where they can have quality of cocktails, as well as food from a number of different establishments,” Jemima told the Chronicle.

“It shows how the Bay is taking that step forward to be innovative … a pinnacle of local businesses working together and, really, it sets the standard for everyone working as a community.”

Local delights like these tacos from neighbouring Tres Salsas can now be enjoyed at 19XO. Picture: Isabella Magee