Sunshine Coast cafe MJ’s Cafe and Takeaway opens in Beerwah industrial estate

A mother and son duo have opened a new cafe on the Coast which is already receiving rave reviews after just a week and a half in business.

Shelley Julius and her son Matthew Cunning at their new business, MJ's Cafe and Takeaway in Beerwah.

A mother and son duo have opened a new cafe on the Coast which is already receiving rave reviews after just a week and a half in business.

MJ’s Cafe and Takeaway in the Beerwah industrial precinct is a fully-fledged family business started by Landsborough locals who have a long history in hospitality.

Shelley Julius decided to take the plunge back into the food and beverage business after a 15-year hiatus.

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The 49-year-old and her son Matt Cunning are showcasing not only their home style cooking but the best local produce the Coast has to offer.

“Everything we try to source locally, we want to really put them out there too,” she said.

“The meat is from down the road and the fruit and veggies from a local guy, our milk is Maleny milk.

“And we have all fresh burgers and patties, daily made sandwiches, wraps, salads, cakes and slices.”

Ms Julius said she had been searching for the right location for a while.

“I’ve worked in hospitality all my life and I’ve wanted to do this,” she said.

“I’d been looking to buy one that was already made and this opportunity came up with the brand new building.

“I saw it online and I went ‘that’s mine’.”

Shelley Julius at her new business, MJ's Cafe and Takeaway in Beerwah.

The mother of three said she wanted the store to have the best of both worlds.

“I didn’t want it to be a cafe and I didn’t want it to be a total takeaway,” Ms Julius said.

“I wanted to be in the middle where we could offer some nice cakes and fresh sandwiches but also offer the hot box and burgers as well because it’s an industrial area.”

She said it was a big decision to take the plunge and sign the 15-year lease.

“I’ve done my own recipes and all that so I thought well here it goes,” Ms Julius said.

“I was really nervous … because you just don’t know whether people are going to like it.

“It’s the second takeaway business (I’ve had) but it’s been a good 15 years since we’ve done it and things have changed a lot.”

MJ's Cafe and Takeaway in Beerwah has something for all tastes.

The proud mother said watching her son Matt, 27, blossom had been a highlight.

“Matthew gets on his electric scooter and he delivers to the industrial guys,” she said.

“It’s his first ever hospitality type job and it’s a new lease on life for him.

She said her son was her motivation to start the business and he would learn plenty from it.

“Eventually Matt will be able to take over and I’ll be able to retire I hope,” she said with a laugh.

MJ’s Cafe and Takeaway is open from 6am to 3pm from Monday to Saturday.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast cafe MJ’s Cafe and Takeaway opens in Beerwah industrial estate