Third Ground Coffee House to open exclusive booking zones for unvaccinated patrons

Unvaccinated coffee lovers will have a place to sit and sip after a small business has devised a plan to develop inclusive zones. Read how it plans to fight the Covid “segregation”.

A popular Mackay region cafe is going to great lengths to beat Covid vaccination mandates with fundraising starting for a unique business model.

Third Ground Coffee House, a popular cafe operating in Sarina, has begun a campaign to fight what it calls vaccination “segregation” in the community.

Co-owner Wes Bailey, who runs Third Ground with his sisters Skye and Jana, said the cafe was working towards a solution to follow health directives while still offering services to both vaccinated and unvaccinated patrons.

“A mandate has been released with the intent to ‘return life back to normal’, however doing so has created segregation by mandating a certain status to be able to work in, and dine out, at a cafe,” he said.

Third Ground – the Deck exclusion zone. The Sarina cafe is raising funds to create unvaccinated zones for patrons. Picture: Contributed

“The way forward, in accordance to the directives and without compromise on connection, is to offer takeaways and allow bookings of exclusive zones for up to 20 people without bias to vaccination status.

“No path is easy, we’ve heard from other cafes how customers have abused staff over vaccination mandates, but we’ve had really good responses from people in the community, irrespective of people’s personal medical views.

“But our mission is to connect, it governs every decision we make.”

Third Ground – the Yard exclusion zone. The Sarina cafe is raising funds to create unvaccinated zones for patrons. Picture: Contributed

Third Ground has launched a Kickstarter campaign, with the business trying to raise the money needed to upgrade its space to accommodate unvaccinated patrons who may wish to dine in at a cafe.

Co-owner Jana Temple said the business’ priorities were providing for the community.

Third Ground – the Barn exclusion zone. The Sarina cafe is raising funds to create unvaccinated zones for patrons. Picture: Contributed

“We’re faced with adversity and challenges, we’ve pushed really hard to adapt and overcome,” she said.

“As we choose to fight for people and honour the value of connection we have thought very carefully about the way forward.

“We are all in this together.”

Further expansion plans are projected with major funding, including new menus, merchandise, expanded bakery and gelato sections, and delivery options also advertised on Kickstarter.

The first target of $3150 is to open the current barn, yard and deck areas as exclusive dining spaces for private bookings.

Additional expansion costs include $5000 for new dishwasher-friendly, laser-printed menus, $2000 for new equipment to increase social media presence, and $7000 for merchandise.

A further $14,500 would provide up to six new exclusive dining spaces for bookings, while another $21,075 would allow Third Ground to upgrade its bakery and gelato stations into a new kitchen area.

Delivery is another option for Third Ground, with a further $15,500 to go towards buying a new business car.

Third Ground Coffee House co-owner Skye Bailey with her artwork. Picture: Melanie Whiting

Third Ground has provided its supporters with cost breakdowns on the website, acknowledging where the raised money is going.

Co-owner Skye Bailey said the ideology of the business was inclusion, not exclusion.

“Segregation is not what we’re here for,” she said.

“Our mission from day dot is to connect, if it means not having dine-ins to stay inclusive, we will make those sacrifices.”

Originally published as Third Ground Coffee House to open exclusive booking zones for unvaccinated patrons