Oomph! and out

Mea culpa!

Like many residents in Battery Point I was fed up with the Battery Point and Sullivans Cove Community Association and quick to sympathise with the owners of Oomph! Tasmanian Gourmet Coffee in Hampden Road, which fell foul of the association for roasting coffee on the premises.

Hundreds of people signed a petition in support of the business and those who complained of the terrible stink of roasting coffee were wrongly denigrated, lambasted for what was perceived as yet another attempt to control the inner city historic suburb in their own interests — which stems from the association’s opposition to public access to the foreshore on which the commitee does not have a leg to stand.

The Battery Point coffee wars became a cause celebre, taking up much Hobart City Council time, attracting interstate media coverage and of course, bringing the coffee shop much publicity and ensuing business.

So I was saddened to read in The Mercury’s Real Estate guide (March 3) that they are selling up for $75,000. Not, it seems, because of the coffee wars, as the ad makes clear: ‘Wise investors dream come true. The best street in Tasmania for anyone with cafe/restaurant experience. Due to rapidly expanding wholesale expansion project, owners have presented this unique opportunity, with incredible location & growth prospects. Be quick.”

They are going to buy as bigger roaster

I rang the listed number late on Friday (March 3) and got co-owner Nikki Kindred, who told me there had been “heaps of calls” in response to the ad. “The phone’s been running hot,” she said.

It transpires she and husband Carlos are opening a business in April in Liverpool St, next to Hudson’s Coffee and across the road from the Royal Hobart Hospital. And the roaster, which was the bone of contention? They are going to buy a bigger one which they will operate in a warehouse rented for the purpose.

“We always knew we would be getting a bigger roaster,” she said. ‘But this place couldn’t have a bigger roaster and after what happened (the coffee wars) we knew we would need a warehouse.”

Indeed, at the HCC meeting on February 6th, when the Kindreds were given permission to continue operating the roaster at their Hampden Rd premises — opposed by Aldermen Ruzicka, Haigh and Burnet because of smell and emissions — Carlos conceded that he would consider moving the roaster to a warehouse.

It appears the move was already planned at that time, as was a bigger roaster,

Ms Kindred said they had a family to consider, and had to put clothes on the backs of their children, and they had put many hours into their business. She was not, however, was not prepared to talk further.

‘I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. ‘We’ve put feelers out (the ad). That’s all I’m prepared to say. Only Carlos can talk about it.”

I put it to her that they had both been willing to talk to the media during the coffee wars — and indeed, had been photographed many times. Ms Kindred said it was always the media which approached them, not the other way around. ‘I’m not obliged to say anything,” she said.

True … but it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.