Little Brick Road cafe owners Jodie Lloyd and daughter Karissa Tanti share journey from market stall to shop front

Nestled off of Railway avenue is a cafe oasis, serving up a quality cup of coffee alongside candles and lotions handmade by the owner. See why customers are loving it.

Owners of the Little Brick Road Coffee Shop, Jodie Lloyd and her daughter Karissa Tanti. Picture: Shae Beplate.

After her self-care business selling handmade candles and lotions outgrew its previous space, a Townsville mother and daughter transformed a railway estate shop into a calming cafe oasis.

Jodie Lloyd and her daughter Karissa Tanti have been working side-by-side in their Little Brick Road cafe since the start of the year.

They said they have built a loyal customer base through word of mouth who come for a good cup of coffee but stay for the friendly conversation and locally made products.

For Ms Lloyd, it had always been a dream of hers to enter a more creative industry after 25 years working in the corporate world.

She said she began setting positive intentions and using mantras to guide herself, and soon she began experimenting with her own products to enhance the experience.

On the menu at Little Brick Road Coffee Shop. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“When I took my products to the markets, I found that a lot of people just wanted to stand there and talk for a long time and so when I needed to move out of the house because I didn’t have enough room, we found this little shop,” Ms Lloyd said.

After deciding that providing customers with coffee and pastries would help build a comfortable space, Ms Lloyd brought her daughter on board.

Products at the Little Brick Road Coffee Shop. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“It’s really good to blend the two together because it’s all about intention,” Ms Lloyd said.

“We get a lot of people that come in and we just want them to feel like they’re part of our family.”

Walking into the cafe, customers will find Ms Lloyd’s Little Brick road products including home fragrance products and a bath and body range which are made

Ms Lloyd said that the purpose of her products is to set positive intentions and help people improve their connection with themselves.

“We’ve got candles, reed diffusers and room sprays and our whole bath and body range which has shower steamers, hand creams, shampoo bars, lip balms and pure essential oils,” Ms Lloyd said.

Products at the Little Brick Road Coffee Shop. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Ms Tanti also uses locally sourced pastries from stores such as Rolli Polli and Three Loaves bakehouse for a grab and go snack for customers.

“It’s really nice to work with other small businesses,” Ms Tanti said.

“Some people come in and just grab a pastry and don’t even get a coffee … They are really good.”

The cafe has also recently become a host for Townsville classic films which use the area outside the shop to transport movie buffs back in time.

“We run that once a month now as a committed thing, that’s just the kinds of things we love to do,” Ms Tanti said.

The cafe is located at 7/68 Railway Ave, Railway Estate, Townsville.

Originally published as Little Brick Road cafe owners Jodie Lloyd and daughter Karissa Tanti share journey from market stall to shop front