Fresno Espresso and Bar brings Melbourne cafe culture to Townsville CBD

Three young entrepreneurial friends have joined forces to bring Townsville a new CBD venue promising to deliver the goods from day to night.

Three young entrepreneurial friends have banded together to bring Townsville’s CBD a venue which promises customers something from day to night.

Peter Taifalos, Adam Woodward and Dylan Pappalardo say they wanted to bring a trend most often seen in larger cities to Townsville.

Their project, Fresno Espresso and Bar, serves up coffee during the day and wine and alcoholic beverages in the evening.

“We’re childhood friends … we’ve always wanted to do a venture of some description,” Mr Pappalardo, 28, said.

Mr Woodward, 28, said the cafe and bar combination had taken inspiration from Melbourne’s cafe scene.

“We had a few trips down south this year, and we saw that was something that we don’t have, which is something that all the major cities seem to have,” Mr Woodward said.

He said that as an accountant, the potential to offer a dual experience for customers had excited him.

Dylan Pappalardo, Adam Woodward, Peter Taifalos and Aaron Power at Fresno. Pictuer: Evan Morgan

“ … Being able to flex it as a bar as well just increases your operating hours and increases your market,” he said.

Mr Pappalardo said the original 150 sqm space on Sturt St, leased by Colliers Townsville, was the perfect location for their venture.

“For us, we wanted something small, we wanted street-front exposure so we were able to chop the tenancy in half and we now share the space with a bookkeeper and put a frame in the middle to separate us,” Mr Pappalardo said.

“That space worked well for us, being able to chop the tenancy in half, serve the takeaway out the front and also have the dine-in with the deck experience.”

Twenty-nine year old Peter Taifalos is also no stranger to business – and in addition to co-running Fresno, is also the owner of PLC gym.

Colliers Agent Aaron Power said it was great to see young people open a business in the city.

“They’re having a crack in the CBD which is fantastic, and more businesses need to come and support the CBD,” Mr Power said.

“Townsville is on the up and up …”

Originally published as Fresno Espresso and Bar brings Melbourne cafe culture to Townsville CBD