Heathmont’s Milk and Wine Co opens at former home of Barclays Cafe and offers free meals to those doing it tough
It’s a rare time to open a new business – but the coronavirus hasn’t deterred the team at the hotly hyped Milk & Wine Co in Heathmont, which begin serving takeaway today. And the crew are offering free meals to those doing it tough.
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Heathmont’s newest cafe and wine bar is offering free meals to those who have had their lives turned upside down by the coronavirus.
The Milk and Wine Co opened today in the former home of Barclays Cafe, which closed in September last year.
Former Barclays Cafe manager Derek Hitt and business partner Beth Hancock took over the space and have established the shopping strips latest attraction.
In line with restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak, the venue is offering takeaway coffee from brewers St Ali, and snacks and meals.
But it also wants to help needy members of the community and have teamed up with consultant and R U OK day ambassador Sam Pinzone to offer free meals to those doing it tough.
“M+W have already let the community know what our plan is to help everyone in this time of uncertainty and unprecedented stress,” the cafe wrote on its Facebook page.
“On top of our takeaway menu offering, we are also implementing stage 2 of our plan and that is to help those in need in the Ringwood and Heathmont areas.
“We can’t promise the world, but we can promise to try and help.”
Community members are encouraged to send a private message to Milk and Wine Co through its Facebook page with details of their situation.
Mr Hitt, who lives locally with wife Samantha, said the venue would eventually offer a cafe and brunch menu seven days a week.
It will switch to wine bar with local drops and also offer tasting boards and sharing plates on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
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Mr Hitt said he wanted to bring an exciting atmosphere back to Heathmont Village with the venue.
“We’re members of this community, we used to be here and saw it in its former glory when people were waiting an hour for a table,’’ he said.
“They knew what they were going to get and they knew the food was good and the coffee was good.
“We know what it can be and we want to restore that.”
Milk and Wine Co is at 196-198 Canterbury Rd in Heathmont Village.
Details: 8719 8878.