Vintage Little Cafe opens in Proserpine

The empty space next to a Drakes in a “left out” Whitsundays town has been filled with love by a new, friendly cafe.

The empty space next to Drakes in Proserpine has been filled with some love as a new cafe opened this month and it’s already packed. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

The empty space next to Drakes in Proserpine has been filled with some love as a new cafe opened this month and it’s already packed.

Owner Joanne Klose from Strathdickie was all smiles at Vintage Little Cafe Cafe as she said there was a need for some “good old-fashioned cafe” in a town that she feels is “left out” in the Whitsundays.

Joanne Klose at the opening of her cafe in Proserpine

It’s not Joanne’s first time operating a cafe as she had two pop-up cafes in Cannonvale and Shute Harbour in the last two years with the first one at Big4 holiday parks and the second at the harbour terminal.

The cafe offers a selection of in-house made baked goods and meals in an inviting atmosphere where customers are invited to spend time.

“It’s not just grab your food and disappear,” Ms Klose said.

She said the cafe had been working well since opening two weeks ago, although she has not advertised, instead relying on word of mouth.

“The community has been very supportive,” she said.

Joanne Klose said customers were leaving plenty of lovely messages on the chalk boards on the tables of her newly-opened cafe in Proserpine. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Ms Klose said she wants to combine her business with her passion for helping a charity, Kyampisi Childcare Ministries, that provides support and care for children in Uganda that have fallen victim to child sacrifice.

Out of the three children she sponsors with her family, Ms Klose decided that one child would be sponsored by customers when they bought items at the cafe.

Ms Klose got involved in the charity as part of business group, Entrepreneurial Business School that connects people with the Ugandan charity to sponsor a child.

“What’s interesting is you get to sponsor a child in all the areas of his life, and you get letters and photos from them,” she said.

Owner Joanne Klose and member of staff Amy Burgum at the Little Vintage Cafe. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Ms Klose has been to Uganda in Kyampisi and Nateete in April this year for 10 days to meet the children she sponsored.

She also helped build a “rehab centre” and was part of a team who held a free medical day, supplying dental and optical assistance to more than 900 people.

“I’d love to go there for six months if I could,” she said adding that she was going back to visit in 2024.

“I’m in a position that if people are interested in sponsoring a child I can help them get connected to the organisation. Just come have a chat with us,”

Customers can find more information about helping sponsor a child through KCM with leaflets available at the cafe.

Originally published as Vintage Little Cafe opens in Proserpine