Beloved Pakington Street coffee shop Five ft One to close its doors this week
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16.05.2022

Beloved Pakington Street coffee shop Five ft One to close its doors this week

The friendly neighbour coffee shop Five ft One will be sorely missed from the busy strip.

Sitting pretty on the north end of Pakington Street, Five ft One cafe has all the ingredients of a stellar cafe, their coffee is always on point, a delicious menu, and an all-star team always makes you feel right at home from the second you walk in the door.

Opening back in 2018 by Geelong local Zara Ramia, who at the time was just 25 years old, the light-filled space quickly became a go-to for locals, always brimming with hungry punters sitting down to brunch options with a cup of coffee in tow.

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A Geelong West institution, after four years of serving coffee and treats to a steady flow of city-dwellers, Five ft One will close its doors to the Pakington Street cafe on Wednesday, May 18.

“It is with a lot of sadness that I am posting to say, Wednesday next week will be our last day here at Five ft One,” owner Zara shared on social media last week.

“I remember how excited I was the day I got the keys and walked in. I applied for this lease without telling my family, when it was time to let them in on my business plan I was laughed at. (Those who have had the pleasure of meeting me and my family would understand why they all laughed). Look who’s laughing now though; this unorganised, middle child has successfully operated her own café for nearly four years.”

 

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Receiving a coffee and pastry here is a true experience, with Zara sharing that the cafe has brought her so much joy and happiness over the past four years but revealed the closure was due to confinements of the current space with the potential for the cafe to live on elsewhere.

“I have met the most incredible people who I now consider friends, and have had some of the most amazing conversations. My regulars became friends with my other regulars. My staff became friends with my regulars. We slowly built a reputation and a community and it truly is a beautiful thing. I’m going to miss this. A lot,” she continued.

“Unfortunately, there are things I would have loved to do in this space however I was not allowed. These things happen, but it’s partly the reason as to why I am moving on.

“I’m not saying this is the end of our run as Five ft One, but this is the end of Five ft One at 14 Pakington Street. This is a special café, with special people in it. To be part of a really tight community in such an amazing street is a testament to how special it really is. A little piece of my heart will forever be in this building.”

For the loyalists out there, Zara will continue with her catering business Boxed & Boards, specialising in graze boxes and graze tables. Turning yet another hobby into a flourishing business, the grazing boxes are filled with the finest range of cheese, meats, fresh produce and accompaniments, with the option of adding in wine too!

Alongside this, Zara has revealed she’ll be opened a new Middle Eastern restaurant with her father later this year, named Mezze Geelong. Stay tuned, brilliant things are coming from this absolute local powerhouse.

Pop in for your last Five ft One coffee at 14 Pakington St, Geelong West. 

Also, suss Boxed and Boards here