King William Road has a colourful new addition, with bagel and specialty coffee spot Stories and More opening its doors in Hyde Park and celebrating its official launch with free coffees and $10 bagels.
The new cafe at 146 King William Road officially opened its doors on Wednesday, August 26, ahead of its launch event on Monday, August 31.
From 9am to 11am on Monday, customers can grab a free coffee and $10 bagel.
There are seven bagels on the menu, alongside breakfast and brunch dishes and a selection of toasties, with owner Francine deliberately keeping the menu small and specialised.
“It’s a very small, cute menu,” Francine said.
“We wanted to lean into the bagel options because there aren’t many places to get them on King William Street.”
Alongside its bagels, Stories and More has a colourful drinks menu featuring trendy creations including tiramisu, ube and rose lattes.
Francine said that the tiramisu latte has already emerged as the most popular, topped with cold foam designed to have the texture and flavour of tiramisu, finished with biscuit and chocolate.
“It’s very popular. My baristas are very good at making it, and the recipe is amazing,” Francine said.
“We also have some gems and stickers that people can use to decorate their own cups if they want,” Francine added.
Francine spent several years working in physiotherapy, including three years in Australia, before deciding to pursue her long-standing love of hospitality.
“I wanted to do something different, and I love hospitality,” she said.
“In hospitality, people are coming in to have a conversation, enjoy food and enjoy each other’s company. It’s the positivity of it that I love.”
That focus on connection is key to the message behind the cafe.
“The whole idea behind Stories and More is that, with each cup of coffee, there’s a story to tell,” she says.
“I’ve put together a board and bought an instant camera, so that people can take a selfie or a photo, leave us a note or tell us a little bit of their story.
“I’m putting it at the main entrance so everyone can stick their own story on there.”
“I didn’t want it to be just food and coffee. I wanted somewhere people could feel at home,” Francine said.
With a small team of friends helping behind the scenes, Francine hopes Stories and More can become a relaxed meeting place for the whole community.
“Families, the community, younger crowds, older crowds, anyone can come and enjoy it. It has a very chilled vibe,” she says.
Stories and More
When: 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Where: 146 King William Rd, Hyde Park
What: Opening special on Monday August 31, with free coffee and $10 bagels from 9am to 11am.
To find out more, click here.
