Cocobrew Express, by Kele Property Group, to open by Christmas

Coming off the back of celebrating two years in business at Cocobrew, the owners are getting ready to open a second site. Check out a sneak peek video of inside here.

Every day for the past few months staff at Cocobrew have been fielding questions from eager customers along the lines of “when is Cocobrew Express opening”.

In exciting news, the answer is very, very soon.

Anticipation has been growing as construction of the new $1.35m drive-through coffee shop on the corner of Albert and George Street steamed ahead and it seemed like the building came up overnight.

The final touches are now being put on the site and customers will be able to visit the new store before Christmas.

While they will be serving up their famous brew, there will be more than just coffee on offer.

The menu features homemade baked goods, breakfast wraps, salad bowls, hot dogs aptly named “CocoDog”, sandwiches, soft serve cones and sundaes, with plenty of drink options including milkshakes, thickshakes, soft drinks and all sorts of coffee.

“We’re not just a coffee shop drive-through, we are a one stop breakfast lunch drive-through,” CocoBrew co-owner Robin Adams said.

The development is another project by Rockhampton developers Kele Property Group project and was designed by local firm Design + Architecture.

It is Rockhampton’s first architecturally designed coffee drive-through.

“Our architect Colin Strydom spent weeks researching the best design and even though it’s a small building the flow works very well,” John Kele said.

The site previously had dilapidated houses on it which were removed, including one home that was relocated 800km away to Byron Bay to be completely renovated.

Hutchinsons Builders began construction at the site in August.

“They have done a great job in trying conditions of rain to get it open, the handover is only days away,” Mr Adams said.

The store is a sister site to Cocobrew, owned by Mr Adams and his wife Linda with Grant Collins.

The bar and restaurant opened two years ago last month and to be opening a second site is an incredible feat considering 2020 and 2021 haven’t been the kindest years economically.

“Two years ago Grant said, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to know what we are doing in two years time, how this is going to go’,” Mr Adams said.

“I said to him the other day, ‘two years is up and we are opening a drive through’.”

Cocobrew closed for 11 weeks in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, just four months after it first opened.

But the owners didn’t let this stop their momentum.

They reopened in June with a bang, launching their 4.5 star boutique apartments upstairs.

By November 2020, they had lodged plans with council for their coffee drive-through.

“It’s been a successful two years, it’s been a tough two years, we’ve had Covid and all sorts of issues but we are still here, we are still loving it, we love seeing the customers come through the door.”

The idea for the coffee drive-through came about in a casual conversation in the car.

“Coffee drive-throughs are growth businesses throughout Australia and it was a natural expansion for CocoBrew,” Mr Kele said.

“Robin and I were talking one day and he said a CocoBrew coffee drive-through could go well if we had the right site. I said ‘I like the idea … let’s do it’.

“I knew the corner of Albert and George streets was a great site but unless we could get approval from council for a new access through the traffic island it would have never happened.

“We are really happy with our local tenants, Robin, Linda and Grant.

“We are confident the success of CocoBrew will continue with their new business.

“They are great people to do business with and they take pride with the quality of their product.”

There could be more coffee drive-throughs in the future as KPG is looking for more suitable sites in Central Queensland.

“We are always looking for new sites for future developments,” Mr Kele said.

“Rockhampton is my home town and if I can make it a little bit better each year, I’m happy with that.”

As for more plans for Cocobrew, Mr Adams said ‘never say never’.

“You always dream there might be something else down the track,” he said.

CocoBrew Express

Corner of George and Albert Street, across from Browne Park

Find them on facebook

Opening hours (subject to change)

Monday to Friday: 5am to 5pm

Saturday: 6am to 2pm

Sunday: 7am to Midday