Mums make seaside restaurant dreams a reality at old Cafe Moto site
We know you miss Cafe Moto – but cheer up because a vibrant new coffee stop and eatery is set to throw open its doors on the Nepean Highway site. And if the fabulously, extravagant exterior artwork is anything to go by, the beach bar won’t disappoint.
Inner South
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Kylie Armstrong and Marinette Dames know a thing or two about a sea change.
And nine months ago while working as social workers in Franston, a new opportunity splashed onto the horizon.
The windows on 116 Nepean Hwy — the old Cafe Moto site — had been lathered in newspapers after its shock closure sent waves through the coastal shopping strip.
After clocking nearly half a century of service combined at WAYSS Frankston, Ms Armstrong, from Carrum, and Ms Dames, from Beaconsfield, jumped at the chance to fulfil their hospitality dreams.
“We talked about having a little cafe every now and then,” Ms Dames said.
“We’re proud, excited and scared … we’re feeling a bit of everything at the moment.”
With a fair lick of blue, purple and white paint – from renowned street artist Conrad Bizjak — Cafe Moto’s grey bricks were smothered in an eye-catching, aquarium-like sanctuary bubbling over the surface.
The head turning artwork — which features a Nemo inspired clownfish and coffee cup wielding, giant purple octopus — took seven days to complete, with Mr Bizjak working from “sunrise to sunset” to get the job done.
The restaurant was to be named, simply, Beach Bar at Carrum.
“We were inspired by a restaurant in Thailand which had a 3D octopus with lights out the front,” the business partners said.
“We just wanted something colourful and catchy that would brighten up the strip … everything else looked a bit bland.
Along with help from Mr Bizjak — who has completed dozens of other colourful works across Melbourne — the mothers said they were “blown away” by offers of support from the local community as they tried to scramble through renovations and paintwork for a February 1 grand opening.
“We didn’t think we were going to make it on time, but I put a call out on Facebook for helpers and the support was just amazing,” Ms Armstrong said.
“The Carrum Football Club cowboys team came down and helped for an entire day. We were blown away.”
The family friendly restaurant and cafe — which will open seven days a week from 9-6pm and through to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays — offers a jam packed menu full of fresh, healthy inspired food choices and bar to suit every palette.
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“We’ve got coffee, acai bowls, smoothies, share plates, parmas, burgers, beer, cocktails,” Ms Armstrong said.
“People can come in for their coffee in the morning and for a drink at night.”
The duo will kick off their business baby with live music on February 1 and look to book in more local acts as the restaurant gets rolling.
“We’re really proud of how far we’ve come … we’ve turned into electricians, plumbers, and chefs,” Ms Dawn said.
“We’re just going to open the doors and see how we go.”
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au