Jake Jodvalkis and Kristy Knox open Local Social at The Wharf Mooloolaba

Owners of a new Sunshine Coast cafe are excited to bring something different to an already popular waterfront dining precinct. Find out what:

Owners of a successful cafe in Forest Glen have embarked on a new venture at The Wharf, offering customers a range of on-the-go fresh food and drinks.

Jake Jodvalkis and Kristy Knox have owned their “original baby” Local Social Cafe on Mons Rd for four years but decided recently it was time to expand and make the sea-change.

The couple opened their second Local Social at Mooloolaba next to the new Kenilworth Coastal Bakery in January and said the response was “crazy”.

“It’s been great fun, it was a bit crazy with Kenilworth doing their free doughnut day, we did a free coffee day as well to get the word out there,” Mr Jodvalkis said.

Kristy Knox and Jake Jodvalkis have opened a new cafe The Local Social on the wharf Mooloolaba. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Jodvalkis said the venue offered something different to nearby cafes and had been set up to cater for grab-and-go options like sandwiches, wraps, salads, juices, smoothies and specialty coffee.

“There’s a lot of nice cafes on The Esplanade and there’s a lot of dine-in trade at The Wharf so we thought we’d go the other option … a takeaway option is kind of missing there,” he said.

Surrounding businesses and Mooloolaba residents have showed their support for the new addition to the waterfront dining precinct that has become one of the Sunshine Coast’s top spots for eating out.

Kristy Knox and Jake Jodvalkis have opened a new cafe The Local Social on the wharf Mooloolaba. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“It’s been picking up each day and obviously the locals are starting to realise we are down that way and we’re open early,” Mr Jodvalkis said.

Having grown up in Mooloolaba, Mr Jodvalkis said The Wharf was a nostalgic place for him and they’re happy to be taking on a new chapter.

“It’s a different scene … you can go for a quick swim after you finish up at work and you can’t really beat that,” he said.

With a background in his family’s natural food store business, Mr Jodvalkis said he was excited to go out on his own with his two hospitality ventures.

Kristy Knox and Jake Jodvalkis have opened a new cafe The Local Social on the wharf Mooloolaba. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“My partner had been working at the coffee shop in Forest Glen when she got offered the business and that was my sort of escape to get into more of my own thing,” he said.

Mr Jodvalkis said it was important to him that Local Social would offer excellent customer service and be a familiar face for locals during the difficult times of the pandemic.

He said they were also expanding the Forest Glen cafe but decided to take a leap of faith and open a second venue in the meantime.

Kristy Knox and Jake Jodvalkis (right) have opened a new cafe The Local Social on the wharf Mooloolaba. Picture with staff members Josie Taylor and Jamie Keightley. Photo: Patrick Woods.

“You’re either in or you’re out,” Mr Jodvalkis told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

“It’s just uncertain, I think you’ve got to just trust and hope it works out, no one really knows what’s going to happen at the moment.

“We’re just lucky we’ve been able to get as many locals and regulars as possible so that when we do have quiet times they’re always going to be there for us.”

Originally published as Jake Jodvalkis and Kristy Knox open Local Social at The Wharf Mooloolaba