Marina Coffee lures residents and visitors after opening at Breakwater Marina
Positioned overlooking the water, a new coffee shop is tempting nearby residents and visitors with its soon-to-be famous crab sandwiches. See where it is.
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Whether it’s their exceptional coffee, waterfront view, or soon-to-be famous crab sandwiches, a new coffee shop is expected to unite residents and entice plenty of visitors into Townsville’s Breakwater Marina.
A resident in Mariners North Apartments for the last six years, Ron Barker decided that the people at Breakwater Marina peninsula needed a community-based hub for boaties, visitors and residents to meet over a drink and a meal.
He initially proposed a coffee cart to Breakwater Marina Townsville general manager Scott Marshall, who encouraged him to transform a recreation room overlooking the boats, which had stood empty for 23 years.
After signing a three year lease and spending over $160,000 to convert the space, Mr Barker officially opened Marina Coffee at Shop 1, 26 Mariners Drive, on July 1.
“Everyone’s been dying for something to go in there and just to have a service like that down at the marina, because there’s never been one,” Mr Barker said.
“We have only been open for two weeks and the reception we have received from locals is far beyond our expectations.
“We have spent 90 per cent of our set up money in the region and use local tradespeople such as plumbers and other trades to get the shop going.”
The business uses Coffee Dominion’s strong Black Matador beans in its coffees, and also serves teas, cold beverages, freshly baked goods, and mouth-watering breakfast and lunch options.
Shop manager Brydy Stanfield said they had recruited a French and a Peruvian chef to look after their kitchen and the results had been outstanding.
Mr Barker hoped Marina Coffee could become a must-visit destination for their specialty – crab sandwiches on locally baked bread.
“We want to have a liquor licence in the near future and we want to create an atmosphere down there for a few afternoons a week, where all the locals can get together and meet each other,” he said.
Mr Marshall expected the Marina Coffee to appeal to members of the community who didn’t own boats and previously had little reason to visit the marina precinct.
“This is an important step for the Marina, which has operated in Townsville for the last 37 years, to open itself to the community and encourage people who own boats, as well as those who don’t, to sit waterside overlooking the boats and just linger,” Mr Marshall said.
“We hope it grows and evolves over time as demand requires and ideally leads to the introduction of further outlets and attractions that strengthen the lifestyle and destination appeal of the marina precinct.”
For more information: marinacoffeetownsville.com
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Originally published as Marina Coffee lures residents and visitors after opening at Breakwater Marina
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