Brisbane 24-hour health food cafe Liquefy to expand nationally

Queenslanders may live in the country's fattest state, but in a puzzling dichotomy, it seems that the interest in healthy eating has never been stronger.

Less than two weeks after opening, the intense interest in a 24-hour health food cafe means it is set to go national.

Liquefy Juice Co.is taking the concept national.Credit: Glenn Hunt

Last night in the Brisbane suburb of Mt Gravatt, the small cold-pressed juice and raw food cafe was busy until 3am. It has been so popular that Liquefy Juice Co's owner David Dowd is expanding nationally.

"The numbers have gone through the roof. It didn't slow down last night until after 3am. Today we are headed toward a record day at the cafe with more than 400 diners through by before lunch time," Dowd said.

David Dowd at his 24-hour Liquefy cafe at Mt Gravatt.Credit: Glenn Hunt

Liquefy, which operates its Mt Gravatt cafe 24 hours a day, opened less than a fortnight ago and has another six stores in Brisbane, and the Gold Coast scheduled to open within the next couple of weeks. This Friday, the second, in Woolloongabba, will open its doors, followed by Paddington in the next fortnight. Additional stores will open in the CBD, Fortitude Valley, Newstead and Burleigh Heads.

Dowd said he was pleased but not surprised at the intense interest in a cafe that serves healthy and largely raw food.

"People have been so excited to be able to eat good food from a broad menu that's all organic and made in house - including our nut milk milkshakes for kids. Parents in particular who have children who are dairy-intolerant have been so grateful that they can take their children somewhere."

Dowd, a Brisbane-based lawyer, said his own interest in healthy eating and raw food was sharpened when he did a pre-season training fortnight with the Brisbane Lions. "I went with them to Arizona with them last year. I was exposed to their healthy lifestyle and realised that there was lots of room for improvement in my own diet."

According to Dowd, the interest in Brisbane has convinced him to take the concept, which includes cold-pressed juices and supplement-boosted smoothies, as well as a range of salads and raw cakes and slices, national.

"The plan is to take Liquefy to Sydney next and do what we've done here with a central kitchen that operates 24 hours and with additional outlets all over Sydney."

Dowd says there are also plans to publish a recipe book mid-2015.

The Liquefy 24-hour store is at 22-24 Carrara Street, Mt Gravatt, liquefyjuiceco.com.au.