Artarmon coffee shop owners team up to fight plans for fourth outlet in their shopping strip

A suburban coffee shop battle has broken out in a Sydney town centre as existing traders team up to fight plans for a new coffee outlet in their shopping strip.

Cafe owners Michael Chen, Angela Chung and Daen Xu standing in front of the proposed coffee shop. Picture: David Swift

A suburban coffee shop stoush is brewing in Artarmon as existing traders team up to fight plans for a new coffee outlet in the town centre.

A petition started by three coffee shop owners has taken aim at plans for a fourth coffee shop in the Wilkes Ave pedestrian plaza over fears it could send current traders “bankrupt”.

Their joint petition states Wilkes Ave “already has three cafes operating within a 30m distance” and that “adding another cafe to this already competitive market was unnecessary and would not be in the best interest of the community”.

The petition has been sent to Willoughby Council by the owners of three existing coffee shops – Michael Chen of Salvage Specialty Coffee, Daen Xu of Wilkes Cafe and Angela Chung of Everyday Canteen.

Their petition claims the new coffee shop in the small pedestrian strip could cause “conflict with existing traders” as well as create potential traffic congestion and “noise pollution”.

A photo of the pedestrian strip.

“We are already struggling with a high level of competition and several cafes in the area are facing or going to face further financial hardship bankruptcy and liquidation,” the petition states. “It will cause significant harm to existing cafe owners, their families and their school-aged children who are struggling.

“They will be unable to solve this extreme situation on their own and their struggle will affect their ability to care for their children’s growth and development while balancing their business and family life.

A photo of where the new coffee shop would be located.

“It is totally not in line with the council’s Covid support for small businesses during this difficult time for business recovery.”

The proposed new coffee shop would be run by coffee connoisseur Samuel Lee who currently operates the popular Only Coffee Project outlet in Crows Nest.

Mr Lee said he was unaware of the petition and was “shocked” to hear the disparaging feedback from his potential future competition.

“I really like the Artarmon neighbourhood and it used to be the north shore coffee place where people would go in the morning to get their coffee,” he said. “Unfortunately I don't see this anymore and I feel all the coffee places in Artarmon are slowing down and people are going to areas like Crows Nest instead.

A photo inside the vacant building which would be turned into the new coffee shop.

“I’m trying to bring more people into the Artarmon area – we are not serving food, only coffee and I don’t know why other cafes would be upset.

“It’s not about competition – The whole idea is to make Artarmon booming again. I’m not coming in to take their business away, I’m coming in to bring more people to Artarmon.”

Plans to Willoughby Council show the fit-out of the new coffee shop at 1 Wilkes Ave would cost $100,000 and would involve adapting the heritage-listed site with new seating, a coffee serving station and back of house facilities.

Samuel Lee (l) pictured at his Crows Nest coffee shop.

The Wilkes is one of three existing coffee shops in the pedestrian strip.

The cafe would trade from 7am to 3pm Monday to Sunday and would seat a maximum capacity of 20 people at a time.

Daen Xu – who owns the nearby Wilkes Cafe – recognised there was limited planning power for the council to refuse the proposal on the grounds of “increased competition” however believes the council should consider the “density” of coffee shops in the town centre.

“I understand it’s the nature of the business environment but this is a small pedestrian walkway and I don't think it’s good for any of the businesses to have four coffee shops on top of each other,” he said.

Michael Chen is spearheading the campaign. Photo: David. Swift.

“This isn’t George St in the CBD where there’s a lot of people throughout the day and it could be justified – this is Artarmon.

It will just kill the businesses that are here.”

The petition – which has also been signed by several residents – has proposed that an alternative business should be created at the site.

“A bubble tea shop, a butcher shop, an office use, or community entertainment centre, any retail with varieties etc would be more appropriate for this location,” the petition states.

The proposal for the new outlet has been lodged to the council and is currently under assessment.