Valentino Safe Co Lilydale to open Lock Shop Cafe at site of former Bread & Butter bakery

Four months after news a beloved Tasmanian bakery cafe would be closing one of its three stores, a locksmithing husband-and-wife have revealed they are branching out to take over the site.

Valentino Safe Co has revealed it is taking over the next door tenancy in the 'Old Servo' at Lilydale, following the closure of Bread & Butter. Lock Shop Cafe will open on September 2. Picture: Supplied

A Tasmanian husband-and-wife locksmithing duo have revealed they are branching out into the coffee world, taking over the shopfront of a beloved bakery cafe that has stood vacant for about four months.

Kate Valentino, who owns Valentino Safe Co at Lilydale alongside husband Rudy – the pair met while on the job in Western Australia 15 years ago – said Lock Shop Cafe would open at 1973 Main Rd, the site of the former Bread & Butter Lilydale shop, on September 2.

While Bread & Butter still bakes and sells bread on-site, it has not operated as a bakery cafe since February, following the loss of a key staff member.

Valentino Safe Co – which is in the same ‘Old Servo’ building as Bread & Butter was – would expand under the plans, with patrons able to access both the safe shop and the cafe internally.

Lilydale locksmiths Rudy and Kate Valentino, owners of Valentino Safe Co, are branching out to open Lock Shop Cafe. Picture: Supplied

“We have a lot of tourists coming in asking for coffee, we have the beautiful Bean Barrow cafe across the road, but when they’re not open there’s not an offering that’s there,” Ms Valentino said.

“We’ve had people coming in and asking for [Bread & Butter], is this the cafe?

“We trick people I think with the shopfront, they come in thinking they’ll get a coffee, sometimes ask for soup.”

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Punters can expect the same kooky style that has made Valentino Safe Co, which hosts monthly gigs and is about to host its first stand-up comedy night, such a surprise hit with locals.

“It’s a beautiful space, we love creating funky interesting spaces and vibes,” Ms Valentino said.

“My husband and I are quite creative, we do all sorts of upcycling and want to recreate same sort of vibe.”

She is also excited about the prospect of providing job opportunities to local youth.

“We like supporting Lilydale,” she said.

Ms Valentino’s 26-year-old daughter, Tealah Tyrrell, will fly home from her native Geelong to manage Lock Shop Cafe.

“She’s the one you’ll see every day, Rudy and I are in the background,” Ms Valentino said.

The cafe will initially open five days a week and serve food such as pies and toasties, although it won’t have a fully fledged kitchen.

Ms Valentino said she could foresee interesting synergies between her two businesses, once Lock Shop Cafe opens.

“Everyone needs a safe in their home and a coffee in their hand,” Ms Valentino said.