IT’S been an ‘emotional’ few days for Martin Douglas as he has finally opened the café of his dreams in Houghton.
The Cafe on the Green is the culmination of six weeks of hard work, which began with the success of his MWD Bakery delivery service during the pandemic and a pop-up café at Cecil Hall last March.
He welcomed customers to the site, which was formerly Lounge on the Green, on November 27 and has been stowed out since.
“It’s been a rollercoaster. The last six weeks have been the most stressful of my life, but it’s been enjoyable,” he said.
“It’s been so busy and may quieten off but I’m confident with the right product and mindset, we’ll be able to keep it this busy based on the feedback we’ve had so far.
“I’ve been very emotional the last few days. This café has been my dream for many years, I’ve always had a vision of having one in a village near where I live - I’ve finally got what I wanted.
“My family has always supported me and I’ve always wanted to open a café in tribute to my grandparents and I’m emotional because I’ve gone and done it,” he said.
Looking to expand on his previous venture, the café has an even bigger menu and serves breakfasts, lunches, a variety of traditional café options and plans in the pipeline to start Afternoon Teas in the New Year.
“It’s an old-school, classic menu. A lot of places now offer loaded fries and burgers, but for me, that’s more restaurant food. I wanted to bring back homecooked, traditional dishes, and so far, customers seem to appreciate it,” he said.
Being coeliac himself, Martin assures those with allergies who come in are in safe hands.
“I take dietary requirements very seriously—whether it’s gluten, egg, or milk allergies—because I know firsthand how important it is,” he said.
Martin gave special thanks to his family, including his mum and dad, Ian and Vivienne, as well as his friends, for their support in bringing the café to life but gave special thanks to Sarah and Amy who join him in Houghton after working together at Cecil Hall.
“They have been the best two friends I could have over the last year. They have been nothing but supportive,” he said.
The café is open Tuesday to Saturday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, with extended hours until 6.30pm on Fridays.
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