New businesses on the Central Coast post lockdown
While we’ve all been locked down, some new and exciting food and tourism businesses have either opened or are close to opening on the Central Coast. See what’s been happening.
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While most of us were watching Netflix during lockdown, there were a number of food and travel inspired entrepreneurs working hard to get their new businesses ready to open once restrictions eased.
Some have opened while others aren’t too far away. Among them is a complete revamp of the old Forresters Beach Resort; a Sydney delivery service taking the frozen food industry by storm; a long-awaited pie chain; and the announcement that Drifters Wharf is set to take over the former Iguana Joes site in December.
Here’s a guide to some of the new places that have opened or aren’t far away.
WHAT’S OPEN
Delidoor
The frozen food company Delidoor has launched across the Central Coast this week.
Launched a year ago by French duo, Mathieu Thomas and Jacques Lépron, and French Chef, Sebastien Houillon, Délidoor is a frozen meal brand that delivers dishes to your doorstep, while also caring about the environment.
Mr Lepron told the Express when the company decided to expand outside Sydney, they tested a few different areas.
“We found the Central Coast quite responsive to our offer of homemade tasty frozen meals especially from families and what we call empty nesters,@ he said.
Additionally, the Central Coast not too far from Sydney, we can service the area quite easily from our central kitchen.”
Délidoor offers real homemade meals, prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients which are ready to re-heat. There’s even some authentic French foods such as Tartiflette, Toulouse Cassoulet and for the sweet tooth the iconic Italian Tiramisu.
The company targets people keen to eat good food but not spend too much money.
“Frozen meal brands are always trying to rival fresh food, when in reality they don’t need to justify anything,” Mr Lepron said. “Freezing fresh produce helps preserve vitamins, nutrients and taste for longer. So all the tasty meals we prepare are just as delicious whenever you decide to enjoy them as on the day they were made.”
Bouffant, Umina Beach
Bouffant bakery continued its expansion during the latest lockdown, opening in Umina Beach.
The bakery now has four coast locations, also having opened in Terrigal, Gosford and East Gosford.
You can expect more than your average lamington at the Central Coast pastry house.
Row upon row of pastries greet you and prove hard to resist, making Bouffant the perfect pastry wonderland to pick up sweet treats like the classic croissant, plus house-made breads and pies.
Visit: bouffant.com.au
MK’z in Terrigal
The new kid on the block in Terrigal is MK’z Cafe.
The cafe has opened on Terrigal Esplanade with the slogan ‘Good Old Fashioned Food’.
A glance of the menu reveals a host of favourites from the big breakfast, smashed avo to lunch time burgers, BLTs, sandwiches, wraps and of course great coffee, cakes, fresh juices and smoothies.
Visit: www.mkzcafe.com
Hungry Jacks, West Gosford
The $2.2m upgrade of the shopping centre is well and truly progressing and will include a new facade for Coles, along with a childcare centre, new mall, outdoor area and office spaces.
Mintus Properties Pty Ltd bought the run down property in June 2019 and have been working hard on the development.
The development has been split into stages with stage one complete including removal of the Return and Earn and construction of Hungry Jacks, along with Hungry Jacks carparking.
Stage two includes demolition of the tavern to make way for 24 carparking spaces and three
motorbike spaces, parents room upgrade, along with converting office space into the 121 place childcare centre.
Stage three transforms the shopping complex, with a new facade, ply area and forecourt refurbishment, new mall and shopfront to Coles.
COMING SOON
The Quarters at Forresters Beach
The former Forresters Beach Resort’s transformation is almost complete with The Quarters set to officially open on November 5.
The Quarters Forresters Beach, now owned by Warren and Donna Hughes, has been described as “a bespoke destination for dining, wellbeing, weddings and events, including newly renovated resort accommodation”.
“At The Quarters, you will find some of the regions best offerings at our cosmetic medicine clinic, hair salon, cafe, bar and restaurant. Each of these services have been hand selected to create the ultimate experience as we invite you to turn moments into memories,” a spokeswoman for the business said.
Drifters Wharf
It’s been described as a “festival by the sea”.
The old Iguana Joes and Coast Bar and Restaurant site is set to open in December as Drifters Wharf.
The owners are keen to reveal all in the coming weeks, however have said the venue will be filled with great food including fresh seafood, 64 beer taps and live music.
The owners are also behind Shady Palms Avoca Beach and Mumbo Jumbo’s in Terrigal.
The Beachcomber
The Beachcomber Hotel and Resort unveiled its transformation after the first Covid lockdown and joined the Choice Hotels portfolio.
However there’s more to come according to general manager Tony Bowen.
Mr Bowen said two new bars are set to open at the resort in summer, one specialising in cocktails and the other located on the grassed area.
Work is almost complete on “semi fine-dining restaurant” to be known as Pelicans, which will focus on seasonal produce and fresh seafood. However a date for the opening is yet to be set.
Mr Bowen said since reopening after the latest lockdown, they have been flat out with “guests enjoying their new freedoms”.
“We have found a significant spike in bookings and the summer period is looking promising,” he said.
“There has been a high demand to hit the Central Coast.”
He said guests include many Sydneysiders however locals have also been enjoying the facilities.
Heatherbrae Pies
Work has officially started on the new Heatherbrae Pies outlet at Ourimbah.
Construction is underway at the Pacific Highway site with advertising signs signalling that the pie chain is “coming soon”.
The restaurant is likely to open in early 2022 with other outlets at Heatherbrae and Sutton Forest.
It has been a long journey for the baking gurus, who initially floated an Ourimbah restaurant back in 2011 after receiving approval from the former Wyong Council.
At the time owner Russell Cox said he couldn’t let McDonald’s and Burger King dominate the fast food market.
“We’ve shown at Heatherbrae how popular the Aussie meat pie can be and we want to repeat that success here on the Central Coast,” he said.
Central Coast Zoo
Lions, meerkats and more creatures have descended on the Central Coast.
Central Coast Zoo is set to open this summer in Wyong Creek on the same property as Amazement Farm and Fun Park.
The zoo has been boasting about their new arrivals through their social media with a pride of six retired lions from Stardust Circus arriving in September.
Dr Katie Hankins, the zoo vet, described the arrival of the pride on Friday as “super exciting”.
“It will be a really fun challenge to adapt their circus-based behaviours to co-operative care behaviours so we can give them a great chapter two of their lives,” she said.
The zoo is also home to servals, monkeys alligators and tortoises.
Have you opened a new business? Let us know at fiona.killman@news.com.au.
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