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There’s a fresh new energy hitting the corner of Waymouth and Anster Streets this week, and it’s being served up by a dynamic mother-and-son duo.
ON 32 Cafe is spacious, airy, and primed for the kind of fast-paced city crowd this new venture is here to provide.
For the mum, a seasoned chef who has previously owned cafes, opening a venue with her children has been a long-held dream. For the son, it meant trading a whistle and high-vis for a coffee tamper and a career pivot.
“Mum’s always been in the hospitality industry,” he shares. “She’s always asked me to come on board, and I said, ‘If we find a good location, I’ll come on board,’ and corner of Waymouth, can’t go wrong here.”
While he grew up helping out in his mum’s businesses, stepping into a co-owner role has given him a whole new appreciation for what she does.
“I literally was working in traffic control before this,” he tells us. “But I’ve grown up in cafes, so I kind of know the ins and outs… [but] to actually be on the front line with her, and see how much paperwork and organisation, and how many people constantly are calling about this and that… It’s hectic. It’s definitely crazy that she did it by herself.”
The location was formerly home to a Cibo Espresso cafe, and in the same building as popular event space The Gallery Rooftop Bar.
Stepping inside, you’ll notice an immediate transformation from what the cafe used to be. The duo have completely modernised the space to match their own vision.
“Cibo’s had its own fit out, but we changed that. I took all the red away, and we just gave it our own style,” he explains. “We came with more neutral colours, cream, a more clean aesthetic.”
“It’s a great lunch spot, somewhere where you can hear the music pumping a little bit. Everyone’s a bit of fun, a lot of smiles,” he says. “At the end of the day, Mum and I just like to serve people. We love our customers. We love our work, so we just want a good environment and a good community basis for this shop.”
When it comes to the menu, the focus at ON 32 is on “keeping it fresh and keeping it fun.”
The food cabinet is stocked daily with freshly prepared lunch staples like sandwiches, wraps, quiches, and frittatas. On the beverage side, expect a stellar coffee menu alongside a rotating lineup of experimental monthly specials.
“We also are introducing specialty drinks every month, so we’ll serve matcha, the trending foam tops, and salted caramel lattes with different foams,” he says.
The cafe used its first days as a soft launch to find its rhythm, and the response from local office workers was immediate. “It’s been pumping. It’s been great. Flowing, definitely flowing,” he says.
“Monday (1 June) will be our grand opening, and we’ll be offering everyone $3 coffees,” he shares. “We’re a new go-to spot on Waymouth and all the office people come down, grab a bite to eat, try something fresh, try our coffee, see how you like it. That’s it. Come for a good vibe.”
ON 32 Cafe
Where: 32 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
When: Open Monday to Friday 7am – 3pm from 1 June
For more info, click here.
