Over the last few years the Little Malop precinct has gained notoriety in Geelong for becoming something of a mini Melbourne with its sneaky laneway restaurants, trendy cafes, stylish bars and all kinds of odd little miscellaneous stores sprinkled in between. Joining the ranks of these groovy establishments, the aptly named Hole in the Wall Coffee Shop opened up their little takeaway window for business in March this year.
Serving up piping hot coffee and all kinds of tasty sweet treats from their chic little black and white abode, we rocked up for a chat with the owners, Christina Munoz and Patrick Mclaughlin, to suss what they’re all about.
First up, can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?
Christina: I recently completed a bachelor in business management at Deakin. I’m passionate about coffee (obviously!), travelling, being outdoors, and food!
Patrick: I’m a father to Sienna. I own and run an electrical business and this is my first venture into a cafe business. I’m extremely excited with what Christina and myself can achieve with our new venture “Hole in the wall Geelong”.
Why did you guys decide to start up Hole in the Wall, is there a background in hospitality/cafes?
I have been working in hospitality for the last 10 years in cafes, restaurants, hotels and wineries in Alice Springs, Geelong and Melbourne. Patrick has his own business, Armstrong Creek Electrical. We both have different backgrounds which why I think it was a great fit as we both offer a completely different skill set.
What inspired you to take the ‘hole in the wall’ approach?
We wanted something that would be very minimal in terms of set up and Geelong CBD really didn’t have anything like this. People like convenience and Hole in the wall is basically a representation of that.
What led you to that particular location? The Geelong CBD is thriving of late so it’s great to see a local business pop up and cater to people on the go!
It was the first location we looked at and it was exactly what we had wanted. We also sat outside quite a few times and saw there was a lot of foot traffic in the area. Geelong Addy and Barwon Health offices were also being built at the time so that was a huge factor.
How long was the process of getting Hole in the Wall up and running?
About five months all up.
You use a local brand Proud Mary for your coffee, why did you decide to stick local?
Proud Mary’s values aligned with ours. The profile is consistent throughout the year and that was important to us, having consistency in every cup. They also have a direct relationship with coffee producers so the coffee they purchase has a positive social impact on producers and their families.
What can people order from you guys? Is your food locally sourced as well or made in-store?
We sell Chicken or Vegetarian Focaccias, toasties and we do a hot sandwich of the day which alternates at the moment from BBQ Beef Brisket & Coleslaw Roll or Meatball Sub. There are also lots of yummy sweet treats such as cookies, raspberry oat slice and caramel& pretzel slice Everything is made fresh in-store.
Do you see plans to upsize in the future?
Two to three more cafes within the next four years within the CBD.
If you were shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs—such as food and water—were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?
Christina: A hammock & some good tunes.
Patrick: Bottomless bottle of wine.
Hole in the Wall Coffee Shop is located at 104 Little Malop Street, Geelong and is open Monday to Friday 7pm to 3pm.