Shortly after picking up the keys to the factory, I started drafting up potential fit-out drawings. I even went out to the factory and used chalk and masking tape to mark up the potential layouts on the floor at full scale.
This was a worthwhile process, as things often appear a lot different when they're laid out at actual size!
We engaged Matt, the town planning consultant, to get things underway for our council development application. We also engaged Rob from Liqcon to manage the liquor licensing process for us and provide advice where needed.
We eventually came up with a fit-out plan that we were happy with, but then started to second-guess whether we should build a kitchen on-site (as we'd always planned) or delete the kitchen and work off a food truck model.
We'd seen the food truck model used a fair bit up in Queensland on our recent trip, but also when travelling through the USA and Canada.
We did a little more looking into this, including a trip down to Geelong, Ocean Grove and Torquay, where a number of breweries use that model to service their food requirements.
We liked the idea of being able to offer a range of different food styles. It also had the added benefit of no kitchen fit-out and the additional permits, etc., that would be required.
With that, the decision was made. No kitchen as part of the fit-out, but we'd allow a place for a food truck to park inside the venue.
So now our draft plans were final (kitchen deleted), and we engaged an architect to draw them up formally for inclusion in our council development application, but also for our redline drawing for liquor licensing requirements.
Fingers Crossed!
By early May, we had everyone on board. The liquor licensing process was underway, and Matt had just submitted the development application to council.
Fingers crossed everything goes well and our permit comes through quickly.
At this stage, if everything goes to plan, we should be open by the end of November, just in time for Christmas 2021.
Fingers crossed!