Close your eyes and imagine the trendiest cafe you can think of. Envision all the latest cafe crazes, current Adelaide favourites, and a vibrant social media presence – then double it, and you might just land somewhere in the ballpark of how unapologetically ‘in the loop’ Lickd is.
After opening its flagship store in Torrensville earlier this year, the brand has wasted no time riding its own momentum. Their cafe is all about their signature canned drinks, which, as owner Tom describes, are flying off the wall.
“We [were] selling over 200 cans a day, and even cracked the 300 mark”, Tom described when we last chatted to him on the opening week of his first location.
Just four months on, that breakout success has paved the way for a second location, Lickd Prospect.
Pinning down exactly why it’s taken off so quickly isn’t simple. Could it be the slick socials, or their instagrammable branding? Maybe it’s the flavour line-up – think blueberry matcha, iced Biscoff, and the intriguingly named ‘skittle tea’. Or perhaps it’s the canning machine that seals freshly made drinks into grab-and-go tins.
Then again, it might come down to the menu’s range. There are light, electrolyte-packed collagen teas (described as being low in calories, infused with aloe vera, and vegan-friendly), alongside more substantial options like their protein shakes… and you can’t forget their cookies that look dangerously good (but don’t worry, with an electrolyte filled collagen tea in one hand and a mouth-watering cookie in the other, you’re basically operating at an equilibrium). Or maybe it’s their cheeky, shareable tagline that has people all over socials telling others to go and “get Lickd”.
Our guess? A bit of everything.
Their new store follows the successful formula of the first, with the goal of ‘creating and exploring dessert-style drinks with caffeine”.
Much like the unique ‘hole-in-the-wall’ concept of the original Torrensville location, their Prospect venue is still on the smaller side, but they don’t need square feet to get people on their feet and making a trip out to Adelaide’s north.
Set in a prime spot along Prospect Road, Tom tells how the new location is already going gangbusters.
“Yeah, it’s been going off its tits. I’ve been up since 4am this morning just trying to keep up,” he told us, his raspy voice a clear sign that there’s no rest when you’re desserts are this wicked.
At the new venue, customers can expect a mix of crowd favourites and playful new additions.
“We just launched the cake in a can. So, it’s a dessert in a can basically….we just want to have lot’s of fun with it”.
But it doesn’t stop there.
“We’ve also perfected the protein shakes, and we’re about to start a protein shake of the month… right now it’s Biscoff. And when I say they’re popular, I mean they’re popular. Yesterday, I sold nearly 90 alone.”
But it’s not just the shakes drawing a crowd. The cookies are quickly becoming a local obsession. Supplied by fellow small business That Cookie Guy – run by Tom’s mate Ryan – these indulgent treats are earning a name for themselves.
“He’s the best in Adelaide. They’re all handcrafted. Juicy, melt-in-your-hand, lick-your-fingers stuff. Soon we’re going to start heating them up and serving them with a scoop of ice cream,” Tom teased.
And this is only the beginning. The team’s ambitions stretch well beyond the current setup. Tom’s vision? A full-day, into-the-night dessert destination.
“I’m closing my eyes and picturing fairy lights, plants, tables… I want to be open until 8pm every night of the week. I want to create a dessert bar.”
Perhaps, we figured it out. Tom’s ambition is the secret to Lickd‘s success. He dreams big, knows his audience, and then executes his vision. Could this be Adelaide’s next big dessert name? With Tom already hinting at a third and fourth Lickd location, it’s clear he’s not thinking small.
Lickd Prospect
Where: 04A Prospect Rd, Prospect SA 5082
When: 7am – 4pm everyday, and until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays
For more information, click here.
