MELBOURNE – Craig Dickson, Managing Director of Veneziano Coffee Roasters has confirmed that the business is moving to a new address in River Street, Richmond (VIC), the former premises of a hardware chain store, also bordered by Crown and North Streets and occupying a space of around 2,702m2.
In a move that’s designed to streamline business processes, Dickson explains: “We are currently spread out over four locations; the roastery and First Pour cafe in Bond Street Abbotsford, the warehouse a couple of blocks away in Grosvenor Street and the administration offices in Victoria Street”.
“The new building, close to Bridge Road, will provide us with ample space to consolidate our entire operation from: the First Pour cafe, cupping lab, training facility and technical servicing all under the one roof”, says Dickson.
“It also means that we’ll receive green beans, roast, store, pack and deliver from the same space, significantly reducing the number of times we handle the coffee from five down to two, something that’s quite a feat in our industry”.
The River Street site has drive through access from North Street to Crown Street, providing easy access for deliveries and despatch.
In addition to an expansive, high clearance ground floor space, the building located adjacent to the Mountain Goat Brewery comprises of a first floor office administration area and a second floor loft space, providing ample scope for Veneziano Coffee Roasters’ entire business operations.
The sale of Veneziano’s current roastery site at 22 Bond Street will help to facilitate the move. Veneziano’s move is expected to take place in three stages, commencing with the administration offices next month, followed by the roastery mid-year and the First Pour likely to be moved in 12 months’ time. According to Dickson, “at the First Pour’s existing location we weren’t able to have a commercial kitchen, so this represents a big move for us in more ways than one; we are really excited by being able to offer on-premise dining and we anticipate running the cafe seven days a week”.
Zwei Interiors Architecture have been awarded the first stage of the project. Typical of older warehouse buildings located on the city fringe the building comes equipped with interesting original features that make it an exciting project.
Veneziano Coffee Roasters – specialty roasters; award winning blends and exclusive microlot coffees; supporter of direct trade with producers and cooperatives; on site quality coffee training and education by professional baristas.
First Pour café espresso bars and coffee showrooms; home of Australian barista, latte art, cupping and roasting champions; licenced Q cuppers and World certified judge; professional espresso machines, grinders and equipment for cafe and home; Australia’s largest distributor of Chemex Coffeemakers, recipient of countless roaster and barista awards and proud supplier to over 500 of Australia’s best cafes.
