Barwon Heads’ Starfish Bakery to be sold

After more than 25 years in business a popular Barwon Heads bakery is being sold – and the family behind it fears developers could swoop in.

Starfish Bakery owner Paul Fox and daughter Cleo will close their Barwon Heads business. Picture: Alison Wynd

After more than 25 years in business a popular family-owned Barwon Heads bakery is planning to sell – but the owners fear if developers buy the site, it could continue to change the quaint feel of their seaside hometown.

In the mid 90s, then-couple Dinah Karklins and Paul Fox were looking for a sea-change.

With four daughters and one on the way, they left their home in Brunswick and purchased a vacant shop at 78 Hitchcock Ave.

The dream was to open their own seaside bakery, and they did just that.

“We pulled out walls and repainted and restocked and set it up,” Mr Fox said.

“Almost the whole street was for sale, the town was really quiet, and no one had any money.

“But having for four young children, we just wanted them to grow up in a better environment, not to have to clean up syringes in the park before we had to play on the swings.”

Since officially opening in 1999, Starfish Bakery has become a local institution in Barwon Heads.

“It just grew from there,” Mr Fox said.

Having worked at Melbourne’s oldest wood-fired bakery, Mr Fox said he was most passionate about baking and creating the cafe’s homemade menu.

Some items have been on the menu since day one – including the beloved ‘Squishy’, containing fried egg, bacon and homemade herb mayo on a sesame seed roll.

Mr Fox’s muffin recipe also remains unchanged, and took out the Geelong’s Addy’s ‘People’s Choice’ award for the region’s best muffin in 2019.

“People say what’s the secret and of course the secret is when you’re dining out everything tastes better,” he said.

Starfish Bakery owner Paul Fox and daughter Cleo toast to the future after announcing the Barwon Heads premises will close. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Fox said the decision to sell came with mixed feelings.

“Time catches up with you,” he said.

“All my children are grown up now.”

He and Dinah split more than 10 years ago but still co-own the business.

“We’ve got a good business turn over, but with that comes in a high cost and high maintenance,” he said.

“I don’t want to work seven days a week anymore.”

Mr Fox said the community had been central to Starfish’s success, with loyal customers and employees who stuck around for years, including his youngest daughter, 27-year-old Cleo, who now manages the cafe.

She Fox said their decision to sell evoked “mixed” feelings.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” she said.

“I’m very happy for mum and dad, starting a new adventure, but it’s definitely sad because it’s all I’ve ever known really.

“When we opened I was one year old year, so I’ve never known a life without Starfish.”

Mr Fox says the family was hoping someone with a passion for baking will come along and decide to keep the business open, but he feared it could get snapped up by developers.

“A business development is likely, knowing Barwon Heads at the moment, but who knows, it could take a while,” he said.

Originally published as Barwon Heads’ Starfish Bakery to be sold