Rising to the occasion.
Looking for a classic jam doughnut to brighten your day? Or maybe you fancy a pie or pastry to get you through working from home?
Pakington street is where you’ll find what you need when you’re on the go, with a new bakery-café swinging open its doors. Named ‘Pako Bakery-Café’, you’ll be charmed by both the details and the food.
With family ties to the one and only Sam Routley, owner and Geelong local Sharon Wallace previously worked in sales finance and the car industry before deciding to give the hospitality industry another go.
Emerging from the first lockdown, it was back in June when Sharon stumbled upon the arcade space in Pakington Street that she knew it was as good a time as any to follow her new dream.
“I decided that I’ve got one more kick in me to have a go at something,” she tells us.
Despite delays in the completion of the fit-out due to the second wave, the bakery was completed within nine weeks and opened to the public last week, offering copious amounts of freshly baked goods.
Alongside the usual suspects of pies, sausage rolls and pasties, you’ll also find a selection of sweet treats, loaves of bread, family pies and gourmet cakes, as well as a salad sandwich bar dishing out the freshest custom rolls, focaccias and sandwiches.
And what would a bakery/café be without some damn fine caffeine? Grinding Geelong Coffee Roasters beans, you can expect expertly crafted cappuccinos and lattes, alongside a range of T2 teas, delicious milkshakes, chai and hot chocolate.
The best part about this little gem though is that everything is sourced locally from within Geelong.
“I’m not doing any outside the region,” Sharon reveals. “All of our suppliers will be from the Geelong region and I’m really big on that. I just think that everyone has taken a hit at the moment so it’s the least we can do to try and get everyone in the community back on their feet.”
The space is just as refreshing as the food and service. Clean, simple lines, minimalism, and functionality without sacrificing beauty. Drawing on the timeless style aesthetic of Scandi décor, the café boasts light wooden floors, bright white walls, an abundance of natural light, and monochromatic finishes. The added greenery, a gorgeous cockatoo artwork and teal coffee machine further breathe life into a room.
As soon as you walk in, the space makes you feel happy, but not in a kitschy way.
You can thank us later!
Pako Bakery – Café is located at 129 Pakington Street, Geelong and is open Monday to Saturday from 7:30am to 3:30pm.
