this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
18 points (100.0% liked)
Melbourne
1871 readers
46 users here now
This community is a place created for the people of Melbourne and Victoria. We are a positive, welcoming and inclusive community. We might not agree about everything, but we always strive to stay civil and respectful.
The focus of our discussions is based around things that affect Victoria, but we are also free to discuss our local perspective on wider issues. Or head to the regular Daily Random Discussion thread to talk about anything.
Ongoing discussions, FAQs & Resources (still under construction)
Adoption Certificate for Nellie, the Daily Thread numbat (with thanks to @Catfish)
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
It's been a funny little dream of mine for years to run a store/eatery in a small country town. Don't know how I'd go in real life (closest I got was running a pub bistro in a country town about 15 years ago) but I can still dream.
I know a dude who really wants to open a cafe in an old train station building, like the ones they've sold/leased off along the Bendigo line. Personally I reckon that's a pretty good idea. Although since trains don't really do refreshment stops anymore, you'd probably be fairly limited in clientele.
Bannockburn station near Geelong has a restaurant in the old station building (which is a beautiful 1800s bluestone style), but they've been "closed for renovations" since COVID and I don't know whether they're ever actually planning on reopening . But I imagine opening one at a station actively in use would probably be more profitable
Pop-up cafes would also be a great idea in old station buildings along Rail Trails.
The problem is that most stations on Rail Trail routes have been demolished or (if they are lucky) relocated.
Last year I went on a ride from Nyora. It would have been a much nice ride if I had a nice coffee and breakfast at the start of the ride, Lunch at Bena (or if I was fitter, Korumburra) and then ride back for a nice afternoon tea back at Nyora.
Defunct station buildings are the perfect size for a proper cafe or restaurant, and already have a large paved alfresco area for diners; especially on rail-trails or heritage railways.