Community & Business
1 March, 2023
Town embraces new café
The corner of East and Clark streets was bustling for the official opening of Dusty’s Clifton café hub, a bold new venture that aims to offer a lot more than just a cuppa.
After purchasing the premises in October last year, in a matter of month, Vanessa and Steven Hicks have transformed the old garage into a modern café.
Mrs Hicks said she was overwhelmed with the response.
“Thank you to our community for coming to support us,” Mrs Hicks said.
“It was a really good atmosphere.
“We had live music and people we’re tapping their feet along.”
Mrs Hicks said her and her husband had been looking to relocate to Clifton for 18 months, keeping an eye out for the ideal property.
When what is now Dusty’s Clifton first caught their eye, it was under contract.
Coincidentally, when Mrs Hicks was asking a real estate agent about commercial spaces some time later, the property was mentioned, and now that it was on the market again, was there for the taking.
She said the name for the business came about through the process of getting the building ready.
“It took three weeks to just get the dust and grime off the building.”
At the official opening, a makers market was held, which, despite being its inaugural showing, had very strong interest from vendors.
There were soap makers, leather workers and even the Back Road Artists group was involved.
Tillberry Green was on hand to perform the live music.
More than just a café, Dusty’s Clifton will offer these makers markets once every three months, as well as selling select products from the makers on their own shelves.
Mrs Hicks said over the coming months, the plan is to build upon Dusty’s Hub, which will offer workshops and an office and meeting space.
She said there has already been substantial interest in these ventures, with several meetings set to take place this week.
Builtform Boutique, the Hicks’s existing family business, is also operating a regional office out of the space.
For now, the Hicks family is commuting from their home at Plainland to Clifton as they wait to find the perfect spot in the Clifton area to call home.
They will be assisted in the café by their three daughters, aged 22, 21 and 18, and local employees.
