~ Lia Crowe ~
B次元官网网址淚t was different,B次元官网网址� Peter Wood says with a smile and a shrug when asked about opening a cafe in the thick of a global pandemic. B次元官网网址淚n some ways our timing wasnB次元官网网址檛 the worst. For a long time I was thinking, B次元官网网址榯his is going to be a disaster!B次元官网网址� We were finally at the point when we were ready to open and then a pandemic hits. It was a bit of a kick in the teeth.B次元官网网址�
But like any good entrepreneur, Peter quickly pivoted to a pared-down menu focused on takeout and says heB次元官网网址檚 been pretty B次元官网网址渃huffedB次元官网网址� by the positive response.
Officially open since early May, Bear and Joey Cafe, where I meet owner Peter to chat life and style, is a beautiful space. ItB次元官网网址檚 like nothing IB次元官网网址檝e seen in Victoria before: gleaming in gold, green and pastels, playful and fresh and idly waiting to delight this city.
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As we sit inside the cafe on one of the days itB次元官网网址檚 closed, Peter has to smile and wave his apologies to a steady stream of would-be customers coming up to the door and hoping for a flat white or perhaps Bear and JoeyB次元官网网址檚 incredible granola bowl.
Peter grew up in Sydney, Australia (more specifically, in the northern beaches), where he met his now wife who is originally from Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淚n Sydney, I had two cafes and a pizzeria with a few partners. I studied business and property and worked in residential sales, commercial property management, as well as for a property developer. But I had an awakening, and realized that hospitality is my true passion. I started looking to do a restaurant overseas and when I came to Canada to meet my girlfriendB次元官网网址檚 parents, I saw Victoria and thought, this is a no-brainer. So we started putting the wheels in motion to move here.B次元官网网址�
Now after three years in Victoria, PeterB次元官网网址檚 vision has become a reality with Bear and Joey. Asked to describe how his approach is different, Peter says, B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not trying to reinvent the wheel, but our food program is about light, balanced, healthy and colourful dishes, paying attention to gluten free, vegan and vegetarian. Australian cafe culture is coffee every morning and a simple breakfast grab-and-go, so you can eat off our menu many times a week and feel good about it.B次元官网网址�
And what inspired the style of the cafe? B次元官网网址淲e were always going to go with pastels, perhaps a bit mid-century modern. We wanted something youthful, not formal, something inviting. We really want to delight the few and that was our thought process behind everything.B次元官网网址�
Like every business owner, I assume, Peter must wear many hats, and I wonder what specific aspect of his work gets him fired up the most?
B次元官网网址淪ervice,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淔ront row centre, service: seeing people delighted, choosing us and walking away happy. I have a thought process about what people will enjoy and then I get all the moving parts together. Like the staff we have now, they are super friendly, enthusiastic, all-round lovely people. Team them up with skilled chefs, and then thereB次元官网网址檚 the roomB次元官网网址nd when people walk away happy I think, B次元官网网址榃e did it; job done!B次元官网网址� ThatB次元官网网址檚 what gives me goosebumps. ItB次元官网网址檚 not an ego thing; itB次元官网网址檚 being confident in what youB次元官网网址檙e doing and confident that you can please people, and then delivering an all-round experience. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what service front row centre is and itB次元官网网址檚 a great feeling.B次元官网网址�
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