Image: Kombi Crew
One vintage Kombi van has spent the past several years making its way around South Australia, serving warm coffees, cold cocktails and everything in between.
That van soon became two, with Kombi Crew building a strong reputation as a mobile coffee and bar service.
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Aaron and Courtney Jones, Kombi Crew vans appear at events including festivals, corporate functions and community activations.
Now, the family-run business has parked up at Tonsley, opening headquarters inside the newly developed Thrive Tonsley precinct.
Courtney said customers had been asking when the business would open a permanent home for some time.
“It was an excellent opportunity that was presented to us,” she said. “We submitted an expression of interest and were selected.”
“We put our heart and soul into it.”
The new café gives customers somewhere to find Kombi Crew between events, while providing the business with more room to expand its food offering.
The same coffee served from the Kombi vans remains at the centre of the business, but the bigger venue also has the opportunity to offer fresh baked goods sourced from South Australian suppliers.
“We love South Australia and its produce,” Courtney said.
“Our fresh baked goods come from Baked Bakery, which is a small local bakery.
“We use Fleurieu Milk and we’re hoping to install a milk tap soon, where people can refill their glass bottles.”
Located within the Junction Thrive building, the café sits in a precinct already familiar to the Kombi Crew team.
“We’ve attended some of the Winter Weekends at Tonsley with our bar and coffee van, so we were really excited to establish ourselves down here.”
“It gives our regular customers somewhere they can visit us every day, rather than only seeing us at an event.”
The café has been designed as a welcoming place to meet, work or relax, with comfortable seating and power points available at several tables.
The wider Thrive Tonsley space also includes a community library and a program of social activities run by Junction.
Courtney said the new home would allow Kombi Crew to train more employees and expand the services offered through both the café and its mobile vans.
“We’re also planning to introduce catering platters and move further into the food side of the business.”
The café opening brings Kombi Crew’s story full circle.
“My husband always wanted to start a café.. at the time, I was worried it would take up too much of our lives,” Courtney said.
“We had two young children and I thought we would have to be there full-time if we opened a café.”
When Aaron found the vintage Kombi, the couple decided a mobile, events-based business would be a better fit for their family.
Years later, they have ended up with a café after all.
“Coffee brings people in, but our focus on community and connection keeps bringing them back.”
Kombi Crew cafe
Where: 79-85 MAB Circuit, Tonsley SA
When: Open from 7.30am-3.30pm
For more, click here.
