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West End Institution Sol Bakery & Cafe Closes after 24 Years

West End has bid goodbye to a 24-year mainstay of the area’s bakery-cafe scene. Best known for its organic, handcrafted and stoned-baked sourdough bread, Sol Bakery & Cafe said goodbye to its Vulture Street shop, another casualty of the effect the pandemic has had on small businesses and rents.

Prior to the shop’s last trading day on 11 July 2021, Sol Bakery & Cafe owner Andrea Poole had been working out with a potential buyer to save the West End store. However, the landlord rejected the offer of that investor.

Ms Poole said that her lease technically ends in July and she’s strapped for time to look for another investor. Thus, there was nothing else to do but to fold and start clearing the Vulture Street site.

Highlights

Sol Bakery & Cafe on Vulture Street, West End has closed for good on 11 July 2021.
Owner Andrea Poole said that they couldn’t keep with the rising cost of the rent.
She tried to find a buyer for the bakery but the said investor’s offer was rejected by the landlords.

Sol Bakery & Cafe, which first opened doors in 1997 under a different owner, had some reprieve during the first wave of the pandemic, thanks to the government’s rent freeze program. After the freeze ended, the landlords raised rents as this was stipulated in their contract.

The bakery tried to stay afloat despite the economic impact of the pandemic but the business couldn’t bounce back fast enough to cover the rising cost of the rent.

“Heartbreaking. My favourite brunch place 🥲 thank you guys for the great service and wholesome food. You will truely be missed!” one customer said when word of the bakery’s end was confirmed on West End social media groups.

“I flew down and drove 8 hours to get their bread. Maybe they will open up somewhere else as they have a good name and a great product…They just need a new home perhaps.”

Meanwhile, Sol Bakery in Darra, where the goods are actually baked, will continue to operate and supply shops and restaurants across Queensland.

Goodwill Team Oversees Rebranded West End Markets

Changes are happening behind the scenes at the West End Markets, formerly known as the Davies Park Market, as new management has taken over running this popular Saturday site. Goodwill Projects Pty Ltd was awarded the contract to run the local favourite weekend market for the next five years.

Goodwill Projects has officially started organising the West End Markets in mid-May 2021, taking over for Blue Sky Events Pty Ltd. The team led by Mark Power has been overseeing 150 vendors who converge at the Davies Park early Saturday morning to set up their stalls filled with food, produce, fashion and handcrafted pieces.

Mr Power and Goodwill are no strangers to mounting markets and liaising with the vendors as they are the group behind some of the most active and exciting markets around Brisbane — Nundah Farmers Markets, Brisbane City Markets, and Milton Markets, to name a few.

“We want to provide a platform for skilled, passionate individuals to start their dream business, launch their passion project or realise their ideas without the significant up-front challenges of a brick-and-mortar store, or long-term contract. Market activation’s offer a genuine alternative to those starting out,” the group said.

“We love seeing success stories and people’s hard work and passion turn into something special, growing into the next big thing in retail or food throughout Australia.”

With West End Markets, Mr Power intends to bring in new stallholders and secure permanent vendors, who have now been using EFTPOS machines on the site to make transactions easier.

The Goodwill team also wants to improve the traffic and parking situation around Davies Park every Saturday by providing subsidised Uber trips for some of the frequent shoppers as well as negotiating with Neuron scooters.

The West End Markets is held every Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

A Special Music Event Inspired By Fruits & Vegetables? Only at West End!

Edible Encore, a delicious celebration of music and produce is set to have its world premiere at West Village in West End on 10 July 2021!

Read: Harris Farm Markets Officially Opens in West End

This musical event takes inspiration from five “heroes”- from the recently opened Harris Farm Markets at West Village – pineapples, tomatoes, passionfruit, strawberries, and capsicums. West Village wrote, “These are from Harris Farm’s seasonal range of fruit and veg that might not look perfect from the outside but are as perfect and full of flavour as ever on the inside!”

This weekend, 3 July, the public was given a chance to see Camerata’s ensemble deliver a live rehearsal in The Common with their chosen fruit and vegetables for free. Camerata Artistic Director Brendan Joyce led the performance of 12 musicians on violin, viola, cello, and double bass from Camerata.

Camerata will also perform some well-known pieces, such as Peter Allen’s “When My Baby Goes to Rio” and some pieces from Astor Piazzolla, who was known for revolutionizing tango music in the 1950s by infusing Tango with jazz and classical.

Read: Wandering Cooks Transitioning from Fish Lane to Vulture Street in West End

A first for Camerata, the group is pleased to present Edible Encores, which is a musical response to fruit and vegetables. Mr Joyce said it has been delightful and surprising to see where this adventure has taken the ensemble.

Tristan Harris, co-CEO of Harris Farm Markets with staff member Indiya MIcallef-Donoghue

For the world premiere, guests will be treated to a delightful musical event as they enjoy a complimentary cheese platter, fruit juice, and fruit bag which is an inclusion in the $15 ticket. The event is a collaboration between West Village, Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra – and Harris Farm Markets.

Booking and further details about the upcoming event can be viewed at www.westvillage.com.au/whats-on.

West End Artist Wins Art Prize At Reimagine 2021

West End artist Nadine Schmoll has won a major Reimagine 2021 Art Prize for her work in the Digital Art – Stills category, gaining recognition for a piece titled ‘Interconnected’.

Nadine, who hails from West End, managed to win one of the three major prizes in the esteemed art competition Reimagine 2021, emerging on top of the Digital Art – Stills category and winning a grand total of $3,000.

The theme for this year’s competition was “Fast fashion, fast food, fast running out of natural resources”, and Nadine’s entry, named ‘Interconnected’, is a piece that sheds light on the impact humans have on the environment.

‘Interconnected’ by Nadine Schmoll
Photo credit: Supplied

“Interconnected (Self Portrait as Coral) is a photographic self-portrait that sheds light on the interrelationships between the natural marine environment and humans, in the context of the global impacts of climate change and plastic pollution,” explained Nadine.

Reimagine 2021 was hosted by Sydney’s Hornsby Shire Council in partnership with the Hornsby Art Society. The competition focuses primarily on exploring the themes of environmental sustainability, climate change, and other matters related to the environment, challenging artists to create works that reflect the crisis the world faces in terms of waste and overconsumption.

The At Prize and Exhibition was held at the Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre at 25 Edgeworth David Ave, Hornsby, running from the 4th of June to the 20th of June 2021. To learn more about the competition, read about it here.

Here’s Where You Can Join A Senior Ballet Class in West End

What’s keeping older Brisbane women fit and active these days? In West End, it’s attending a senior ballet class at the Queensland Ballet studio!

Since the Queensland Ballet opened the program for older women in 2017, the senior ballet classes have been receiving more students who have been reaping the rewards of dancing. They are physically improving their posture, control of bodily functions and agility.

The senior ballet classes are conducted for eight weeks at the Beesley Street studio, whilst there is also a two-day training course for the teachers, who are then sent to the Gold Coast, Cairns, Mackay and Hervey Bay to train more senior women.

Photo Credit: Queensland Ballet/Facebook

According to Genevieve Dunn, the organisation’s head of community engagement, ageing women are taught ballet techniques to enjoy and to connect with their peers.

The focus isn’t on executing a perfect routine but on physical fitness and enjoyment. The sessions are purposely repetitive so that the women could re-invigorate muscles they have stopped using, which makes them more active and energetic.

A study from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) underscored the many benefits of attending a senior ballet class.

“Some of the participants reported that they found the classes positively euphoric and transformational in the pleasure they felt at being part of such weekly social engagement,” Professor Gene Moyle of the QUT’s Creative Industries Faculty said. “The physical benefits of movement and dance on ageing bodies is well documented and our project really re-enforces these findings, however additionally highlights the joy and benefits social connections in dance can bring to people’s lives.”

To learn more about Ballet for Seniors, as well as Jazz for Seniors and Dance for Parkinson’s contact community@queenslandballet.com.au or sign up for the classes online.

Now Open! Harris Farm Markets West End Flagship Store

“A flavour-filled showcase of Queensland and Australian produce under one roof.” This is how Tristan Harris, co-CEO of Harris Farm Markets, describes their flagship West End store as it finally opens.

Enter the food mecca beginning 4 June 2021 with heaps to find at Harris Farm Markets in West Village. Taking up more than 1,800 square metres on the ground floor of the historic 1920s Peters Ice Cream building, here are some great finds.

Milk on Tap, Loose Coffee & Tea, Honey on Tap

Similar to Harris Farm Markets in Clayfield, the West End store will have its very own Milk on Tap corner offering the creamy goodness of Maleny Dairy, Barambah Organics and Oat Milk from Inside Out.

Lund Coffee from Bowen Hills will supply eight types of roasted loose bean options and 20 loose teas. There will be four lines of Gold Coast’s Pour Your Own honey on tap as well, a first for Harris Farm.

Nut Butters, Danny’s Boulangerie, Salumi Deli

Also another first? The self-serve Almond, Peanut and Cashew Butter, which will be great to pair with the artisan, organic baked goods from Teneriffe’s very own Danny’s Boulangerie.

The bread choices would also be perfect for whatever you can find at the Cheese Alley, marked as a turophile’s haven with 500 kinds of cheese, including a range of vegan and local stars Barambah, Woombye and Casa Motta.

Imperfect Picks

Harris Farm Markets’ popular Imperfect Picks program will also be carried over at the West End shop. It’s where visually unappealing, yet still equally delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables go.

“Our West End flagship store will be home to the best in fruit and vegetables, including a huge organic fruit & veg section and a leaderboard of Queensland flavours, a gourmet grocery section of boutique local products, an extensive deli and offering of more than 500 cheeses, a local bakery section with the best breads such as sourdough and brioche from our Teneriffe mates Danny’s, and a premium meat selection,” Tristan said.

This flagship store will also carry Brisbane’s most famous food brands: Sol breads, Roza’s Sauces, CJ’s Pasta, My Berries, Madders Brothers Patisserie sweet treats, and Woggoon Farm honey and edible flowers.

Shoppers visiting Harris Farm Markets West End are advised to park on Mollison Street for their convenience.

Harris Farm Markets Officially Opens in West End

The wait is finally over! More than six months after Harris Farm Markets announced it’s coming to West End, the doors of the family-owned enterprise will finally swing open and welcome shoppers at its Brisbane flagship store.

On Friday, 4 June 2021, Harris Farm Markets at the West Village on Boundary Street will begin trading over 500 lines of fruit and vegetables, 500 kinds of cheese, four kinds of Pour Your Own Honey, three direct pour milk variants, and 150 plant-based and vegan products from the popular Imperfect Picks brand.

The new supermarket takes up 1,800 square metres of warehouse space on the ground floor of the historic Peters Ice Cream and it will be a “flavour-filled showcase” of local products from Queensland and Australia.

The West End shop will serve as the headquarters, where the priority is to showcase local concession partnerships between the store and producers. After all, Queensland is known for its range of quality-grown vegetables and fruits, especially strawberries and mangoes.

Expectedly, the West End supermarket will have a large section of organic produce that will cater to the popular dietary needs of the locals. The store will also have a gourmet section for boutique products, extensive deli choices, a range of freshly-baked bread, and choices of premium meat.

Harris Farm Markets has been in operation across Australia for more than 40 years, with more than 25 stores. Its other Brisbane shop is in Clayfield, which opened in late 2020. The site once belonged to the Harris family 30 years ago, before it became Clayfield Markets, owned by Carlo and Susan Lorenti. The Lorentis are now the managers of Harris Farm Market Clayfield.

A Look Inside the New Eco-Friendly Woolworths Store in West End

From trolleys made from recycled milk bottles to LED lights that brighten the store, the new eco-friendly Woolworths outlet in West End promises to operate with a reduced carbon footprint.

Opened in mid-May 2021, the West Village supermarket has been tipped to bring a new shopping experience for locals of this suburb, who are known to embrace the tree hugger lifestyle. For instance, at this Woolworths, they can enjoy freshly made banana bread baked using ingredients from the store’s food wastage (unsold overripe bananas) every day.

The store will be operating at 15 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to any other Queensland location. The site has provided 130 bicycle slots for customers and workers, whilst there are changing stations for customers driving electric cars.

The Woolworths West Village outlet has also partnered with local farmers to supply customers with 100 percent Australian grown produce and meat. The butcher section, sourced from local suppliers as well, allows customers to order a specific cut whilst they wait.

Shoppers could also drop off their recyclables like soft plastics and coffee pods at this store, as well as their old mobile phones or used batteries.

However, it remains to be seen if residents from West End and the nearby inner-city suburbs will patronise this green store as various protests marred the supermarket’s development. There were campaigns against its construction as the store was big but had little green spaces and it looked out of character.

Enjoy a Quiet Breakfast at Red Bowler West End

Photo credit:Facebook/Red Bowler Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar

Eager to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and unwind at a vintage coffee lounge and bar? Red Bowler in West End offers a moment of reprieve coupled with breakfast meals and delicious beverages.

Red Bowler, a coffee lounge and wine bar located along West End’s Duncan St, offers its customers a curated selection of teas with options such as English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint, and Lemongrass and Ginger — all priced at $4.60. Kombucha, sparkling water, and fruit juice is also available for order.

Available in their coffee menu are classic brews such as cappuccinos, espressos, chai lattes, mochaccinos, and many others. Customers can also indulge themselves with some chocolate, iced or hot, as well as iced lattes and long blacks.

Last but not least, Red Bowler offers a variety of wines and beers which are complemented by the restaurant’s rustic ambience. With a mix of retro and antique furniture dimly lit by lamplight, the lounge serves as an excellent retreat from the bright and busy atmosphere outside its walls.

All of these beverages can be partnered with an assortment of snacks. Roasted nuts, marinated olives, fresh bread and butter, as well as dip are all available to order to complement drinks. Meals good for two are also sold exclusively on weekends.

Their breakfast plate, dubbed Day Break, is only available on Saturdays and Sundays. The dish consists of avocado mash, preserved lemon, smoked butter and lemon oil with artichoke, tomatoes and capsicum relish topped off by a choice of either salmon or ham, two small bowls of yoghurt, and a freshly toasted sourdough bagel.

Photo credit: Facebook/Red Bowler Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar

Reviewers raved over the lounge’s ambience in particular, commenting that it was “chilled”, “fabulous”, or simply “beautiful. The coffee also comes highly recommended, and customers have lauded Red Bowler for its excellent service as well.

Red Bowler Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar can be found at 15 Duncan St, West End, open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends. For more information, and for the latest updates concerning the cafe, follow their Facebook page.

Popular Anita Gelato Opens First Queensland Store in West End

Anita Gelato, the famous gelateria founded by a mother and son team from Israel, will be serving up the sweetest and creamiest scoops for the very first time in Queensland once its West End outlet opens.

Known for its over-the-top flavours and Instagram-worthy servings, Anita Gelato always has customers lining up at its stores in Barcelona, New York, Tel-Aviv and Sydney. In the middle of June 2021, Brisbane locals will finally get to taste why this gelato has a cult-like following around the world.

Owner Adi Avital is proud that their first Queensland store at Peters Ice Cream Factory will “carry the mantle” for the historic Australian ice cream brand. Right from the start, the Avitals knew that they found their home in Brisbane when they saw their Boundary location. Peters Ice Cream Factory stopped churning ice cream at their West End factory over 25 years ago.

Anita Gelato offers 150 flavours of tasty, cold delights like gelato, frozen-yoghurt, sorbet and other icy treats, including sugar-free varieties. Every sweet treat at this ice cream store is handmade using 100 percent natural ingredients. The syrups and jams are prepared straight from the kitchen of Mama Anita, the family matriarch.

Nearly 20 years ago, the Avitals opened their small-scale ice cream shop in Tel Aviv to feed their neighbours and friends. Then Adi’s son, Nir, started developing ice cream using Mama Anita’s jams for the flavour boost, which became a hit. This ushered their expansion in other parts of the world but to this day, the jams, syrups and chocolate toppings are still made fresh in their home kitchen under Anita’s supervision.

The exact date for the opening of Anita Gelato in West End has not yet been announced. Follow their Facebook page for updates.