A Classy Café is winner for Excellence in Accommodation and Hospitality

✦ 2022 Wauchope & Hinterland Business Awards

A Classy Café & Espresso Bar is one of the oldest Cafes in Wauchope, established in approximately 1990, operating in one of the town's beautiful historical 100 year plus old buildings.

Photo: Meraki Photography. The Hon. Melinda Pavey (left) presenting the award to Beth and Leigh Torrisi of Classy Cafe & Espresso Bar for Excellence in Accommodation and Hospitality

Over 60 years ago the business operation was a bakery, then turned into Wauchope's motorcycle sales and service centre, then many years later transformed into Waterman's Cafe, then A Classy Cafe and Florist and then to A Classy Café & Espresso Bar as it is today.

In January 2021, Beth and Leigh Torrisi purchased the café and have since shared with the community their passion for beautiful fresh quality food and coffee.

A Classy Café & Espresso Bar offers a welcoming relaxed and casual family friendly atmosphere serving the people’s choice of their silky smooth fresh brewed coffee blend, unique to the region, along with their homestyle cooking and home made sweet and savoury treats, the entire family will enjoy a delicacy on the menu.

A Classy Café & Espresso Bar is where family and friends come to meet and new friendships are made.

Challenge and adaptation

The couple and staff have experienced various different trading conditions that they have had no choice but to adapt to. One of the biggest trading conditions for them has been the world wide COVID-19 Pandemic. During the lockdowns and closures, they were fortunate enough to keep the doors open and serve their menu take away.

During this time, A Classy Café & Espresso Bars website and app was developed to ensure an easy, fast, safe and efficient way for customers to order and pay without having to leave their home. Also, delivery options were introduced to help service customers' needs throughout those difficult times.

The website and app still serve great purpose, allowing the business to move with the times, entering and growing the business in the digital space. Both technologies allow those tech savvy, time poor customers a great solution for faster and convenient ordering options and pick up times.

Another challenge for not only A Classy Café & Espresso Bar, but others in the hospitality industry, is the lack of labour. Hospitality has always faced challenges with labour prior to the pandemic, but difficulties with recruitment and employee turnover, increasing wages, and management concerns have only grown more challenging. The biggest issue now isn't just the cost of labour, it is the lack of labour.

Beth said, "Another trading challenge for our business in current times is inflation and the massive increase in cost of product and services across all areas, along with supply shortages. We are currently planning, preparing and adapting to these current challenges."

One example; the business is in the process of building a veggie patch in the small courtyard at the back of the café. This will allow them to grow fresh produce and reduce the cost and ease of shortages of some products.

Planning and creating a seasonal menu will also allow them to continue to provide fresh products whilst remaining sustainable into the future.

Experience the difference

The key strengths of the business don't just come from their strong skill set within the coffee culture community and or ability to create beautiful home made cakes slices and meals; but allowing each customer, die hard regular or a new face to feel welcomed, valued and a part of something that to Beth and Leigh, is much more than just a café.

Beth told us, "We take the time and make the effort to get to know everyone. Not only so we can make each coffee and meal to the liking of our customers, but to provide a friendly face and conversation to go along with it."

Expect good food at A Classy Café & Espresso Bar Wauchope

New ideas and products

Their products and branding is homely homemade cakes, sweet and savoury treats, meals and of course the amazing coffee.

Getting back to basics and recreating those old school recipes that grandma used to make, will leave you reminiscing about a simpler time when you visit A Classy Café & Espresso Bar.

Intertwining these old school recipes with seasonal trends and continuously creating new flavours and styles, gives the café a great point of difference and competitive edge.

Supporting the community

A Classy Café and Espresso Bar actively support the community in many different ways. They use a pay it forward system. Customers can choose what they are paying forward or how much, this is added to the pay it forward card.

The cafés pay it forward system goes to nurses, doctors, police, SES, fire brigade, community workers or someone who is genuinely in need to brighten their day.

"The system has been promoted by word of mouth and is becoming very popular and an amazing way for the community to care for each other in hard times," said Beth.

The business is also listed as Wauchope's information centre. Something they are working on promoting and growing awareness of so they can also help promote the many wonderful small and boutique businesses Wauchope has to offer.

They offer work placement opportunities for the local high school, along with being a part of Wauchope High School's, Wauchope Reads promotion.

"We try to be actively involved and take up opportunities like the Culinary Canvas Dinner, along with allowing private functions, bookings and catering for various community outlets."

On a daily basis they care for their elderly customers as some of these customers do not have family in the area. "We like to think we provide a safe, warm and friendly environment for our elderly. Leigh will honestly go out of his way to help anyone in need," Beth explained.

Contact

A Classy Café & Espresso Bar

Shop2/68 Cameron St,

Wauchope NSW 2446

Phone: (02) 6586 0593 Order: aclassycafe.com.au

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