These champions in Geelong's food scene will be sorely missed.
It’s always a sad day reporting on the closure of a local business, and today we’re writing about two…
Located on Pakington Street, just metres away from each other, cafes Sticks and Grace, and Butter & Co, have announced they will close their doors this September.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
Like most small local businesses, cafes and restaurants across Geelong have struggled to recover financially after the elongated shutdowns of 2020, as well as the weeks spent in snap lockdowns last year and the raft of ever-changing restrictions set upon small business owners.
Feeling the effects of it all is Pakington Street favourite, Butter & Co, which will close its doors for the final time on Sunday, September 25.
After training in Melbourne at the Grant Hyatt, and a brief galavant across Europe, Adele Carr, the owner and head chef was ready for her dream to take shape. But first, a 30-month refurbishment of her site on Pakington Street was required (nooo!).
Since then, Butter & Co have been the place to go when looking to treat yourself. With a custom pink coffee machine, a bright industrial space and a pastry chef with years of experience, the patisserie is loved by locals for its mouth-watering treats, including picture-perfect tarts, cakes, eclairs, croissants and of course, delicious coffee.
Savoury croissants are done to perfection here with crowd favourites being the reuben – baked with pastrami, swiss cheese, sauerkraut and finished with a fresh pickle; and the ham and cheese – filled with ham hock and béchamel sauce.
Adele announced the news on social media, receiving an outpouring of love and well wishes from the local community.
“It is through teary eyes that I write to my lovely customers that I have made the tough decision to close the doors at Butter & Co,” she said.
“If anyone has ever been into Butter you will have seen me through the kitchen window working away. I’ve been there almost every day for close to 4 years now and I’m oh so tired. Owning a small business alone, throw in a pandemic and you have the makings of a classic burn out. The constant stress of crisis management and the unpredictability of hospitality has been tough beyond belief.
This journey has been amazing, hard, exhausting, joyous, delicious and has pushed me beyond what I thought I was ever capable of. Now it’s time for me to do what’s going to bring me joy and that’s more time with my amazingly supportive partner, lovely family and incredible friends (and maybe a few sleep ins, coffee in bed and even a holiday).
“Our last day of trade is Sunday, September 25. To my amazing customers, I can’t tell you how much your kind words, smiles and cake loving has meant to me and my lovely team. Please come and see us over the coming weeks for your last buttery treats.”
For its final week, Butter and Co will be open on all three days – Thursday, Friday and GF Saturday – from 8:30am to 1pm. It will be open for the final day on Sunday from 9am to 1pm. This is literally your last chance.
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Located at the River End of Pakington Street, Sticks & Grace is a warm, comfortable haven that has been gifting the region with the ideal cafe experience for more than a decade. Ran by Nathan Lightfoot, a name well renowned in the hospitality industry, Sticks & Grace has earned a solid reputation over the years for its easy style, smart food and first rate coffee.
Add in friendly and efficient staff, a comfortable and uncluttered interior, tonnes of natural light and changeable sweets such as rich chocolate and hazelnut cake, and it’s easy to see why this spot has become a favourite in the local foodie scene.
Sadly, the cafe have announced its closure with the building owners asking the cafe to vacate.
“It is with a heavy heart that we wish to inform you that we have been asked to vacate the premises resulting in us making the difficult decision to close the doors of Sticks & Grace.
“Our last day of trading will be on September 13 2022. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all our fantastic staff, suppliers and customers for their continuous support over the years.
“We hope to relocate and continue serving you all in the near future.”
With a notice of the closure sitting in the cafe window, it was local business Wes Eggs who shared the news on social media on behalf of owner Nathan which stands as a clear reflection of the cafe’s longstanding presence within the community.
“Our mate, Nate who owns Sticks and Grace, a super popular cafe in Pako, has been asked to vacate,” they said in the post.
“We go as far back to when we used to work at Safeway (that’s what it was called then) as kids! He has been a fab supporter of us, through all our highs and lows and it will be so sad to not be providing eggs to him and his amazing Café.
“If you’ve ever eaten there, you know what I’m talking about. Hopefully over the next week and a half we can all flood his store with love and give him a massive send-off.”
While there’s hope we’ll see Sticks & Grace again, there’s still time to stop by for both cafes this month.
Sticks & Grace is located at 4/337 Pakington St, Newtown and Butter & Co is located at 316 Pakington St, Newtown.
