See details: Loved Toowoomba cafe’s new location revealed
Jen Shaw feared she may be forced to close the doors entirely after Covid-19, but her desire to help struggling kids pushed her to find a solution.
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Few breakfasts are served with a side of giving back to others, but it’s part of what makes this social enterprise so special.
Now new beginnings are on the horizon for Emerge Cafe.
Ever since Jen Shaw started the Toowoomba business, she has been using the profits made from the cafe and any other donations received to assist kids having a tough time.
Ms Shaw has never given up on the region’s struggling youth and has helped hundreds of children to get back on their feet or achieve their dreams.
But as the social enterprise continues to face and overcome challenges presented by Covid-19, the time has come to farewell the Railway St site it has called home since last year.
Feeling the impact of outbreaks in Brisbane, followed by locally confirmed cases, mandate restrictions and the added pressure of the hospitality sector’s usually quiet month of January, the CEO feared she may have had to close the business entirely before she received an answer to her prayers.
Ms Shaw said while the news was bittersweet, she was excited to welcome customers to Emerge 3.0, at St Stephen’s Church on Union St.
“It’s a way for us to survive, and if we didn’t have this, we’d definitely be closing our doors completely,” she said.
“Things happen and you think it’s devastating at first, but change is always a good opportunity to make sure you’re headed in the right direction and get back to doing what you got into this to do.
“We know we’re so important to that 10 per cent of kids in our community who have fallen through the cracks, and we pick up those pieces when other people can’t.”
The last day of trade at the Railway St store will be on February 19.
Ms Shaw said the move would take place the following day and would be grateful to anyone who could provide a helping hand.
Emerge will be serving coffee, drinks and light meals from its trailer at St Stephen’s on Annand St from February 14.
It will also be offering takeaway options through Uber Eats from March 1.
The new Union St venue is expected to be open for dine-in customers by May.
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