Images: Homesick Henley
Homesick Henley has officially opened its doors in Henley Beach, promising to be more than just a coffee shop. It’s a place where locals and visitors can find comfort, quick bites, and a sense of belonging.
“Since we opened last week we’ve had such positive feedback: people have loved the coffee, interior, lighting and of course, the food. We knew it would be good, but people’s reactions have been amazing,” co-owner Yaz says.
The space, which was designed in collaboration with Danielle Carmelengo, feels warm and inviting with polished concrete flooring, terracotta walls, bar seating, arched hallways, and fresh goods lining the counter.
The colour scheme is welcoming, complimenting the name of the shop, “Homesick Henley”, which is not only inspired by the owners Yaz and Jas’s own experiences, but their love of feeling ‘at home’ at their local cafés.
“My wife and I would always go out to different venues like Exchange, Whistle & Flute and more on Mondays. And then for a while life got in the way and we couldn’t, and we really felt like we missed our favourite places,” Yaz recalls.
“We got withdrawals and we want people to feel like that with us as well. When they don’t come to us, they feel homesick, and then when they come inside, they feel so welcomed again and right at home.”
The menu is a major drawcard of the venue, with expert specialty coffes, sandos, pastries, fresh juices and more.
Head chef at Homesick Henley, Jamie Squillance, who’s created a range of different menu options, marks the venue’s most popular dish at the moment as the Chicken sando with Tomago bacon – creating a Japanese style option with a delicious egg curry mix.
“We’ve got our chef Jamie to create a menu that’s slightly different to the regular, there’s some really cool combinations in there,” Yaz says.
One of those cool twists is the venue’s homemade salsa sprouts which give the sandos some extra crunch.
Other menu options include a Pastrami sando with wattleseed ricotta and pesto basil and a smoked chicken option with swiss cheese, green tomato, shredded lettuce, pickled onion, salsa sprouts and a special romesco sauce.
“Plus, there’s even a ham and cheese croissant with dijon mustard and pickles that that’s like a Hungry Jacks burger in croissant form,” Yaz says.
The star of the show will be the coffee from Veneziano, who were born out of Melbourne and now have a roaster here in South Australia as well.
“For me, it was important to have a relationship with the people as well as love the quality of the product. I like high-end coffee; I’m a coffee snob and I’m very particular with what I choose, so I think it will be a winner in the beach area,” Yaz shares.
So why Henley Beach? According to Yaz, it’s not just about the picturesque location; it’s also about the community. Attaboy Barber has also just opened next door, with a large window between the two venues almost as if the two are intrinsically connected.
“It’s great being next to them, people love popping in before and after appointments. We hope to be able to create a QR code where people can order from their chair while they’re getting their hair cut,” Yaz says.
Yaz’s journey to owning a coffee shop has been a long-time dream, which has finally come to fruition.
“I’ve been in the hospitality world for over a decade and managed coffee shops,” he says. “I’ve never had the balls to open my own and wanted to wait for the right time. This is it. It’s always been a dream to own my own shop and have things done the way I’ve envisioned.”
Homesick Henley
Where: 1/337 Military Road, Henley Beach
Open: Monday – Friday 7:30am – 3:30pm
Saturday/Sunday 7:30am – 2:30pm
More info: @homesick.henley
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