Jennie Chen is celebrating 12 months at the helm of The Last Straw, bringing her own flavour to the café, while building on its strong connection with the community.
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY: KELLY LUCAS-CARMODY
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FOR JENNIE CHEN, THE PAST 12 MONTHS HAVE BEEN ABOUT TAKING A MUCH-LOVED LOCAL CAFÉ AND GRADUALLY MAKING IT HER OWN.
After taking over The Last Straw, Jennie has introduced new ideas, a fresh menu and a stronger Thai and Asian influence, while retaining the welcoming atmosphere and breakfast and brunch favourites that customers already know.
“Taking over The Last Straw and seeing it grow into something that feels like our own has been really special,” Jennie said.
One of the biggest highlights has been watching customers embrace the new direction, particularly the new dishes, while also getting to know the regulars who have become part of the café’s everyday life.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know our regular customers and becoming part of the local community,” she said.
“Seeing families return, meeting new customers, and hearing people say they love the new direction of the café has been incredibly rewarding.”
Behind-the-scenes, however, taking on a café has been a significant learning curve.
While Jennie has around 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry, owning a business brings a whole new set of responsibilities.
“Running a café is so much more than just preparing food and coffee,” she said.
“There are staff, suppliers, rostering, costs, customers, menus, equipment, and so many little things happening behind-the-scenes every day.”
Despite the challenges, Jennie has embraced the opportunity to put her own stamp on the business.
She wanted to maintain the warmth and character of The Last Straw, while introducing her own personality through the food, drinks, presentation and atmosphere.
“I wanted the café to feel welcoming, relaxed and a little bit different — somewhere people can come for good food, good coffee and feel comfortable staying for a while,” she said.
For Jennie, one of the most rewarding parts of hospitality is the relationship built with customers.
Regulars become familiar faces, families become known and the café becomes more than simply a place to grab breakfast or a coffee.
“After a while, your regular customers become part of your everyday life, and you really get to know them and their families,” she said.
That connection has also been reflected in the support from the local community, with customers returning regularly, recommending the café to friends and bringing their families in to try something new.
“I’m most proud that we’ve been able to create our own identity, while continuing to build a relationship with our customers,” Jennie said.
“The best feeling is when customers tell us they love the food or come back and bring their friends and family.”
Now, Jennie is looking towards the next chapter, with plans for another restaurant featuring a stronger focus on Thai food.
“It’s exciting, but also a little scary, because opening another business is a big commitment,” she said.
“At the same time, everything we’ve learned from The Last Straw has given us the confidence to take that next step.”
For the year ahead, Jennie plans to keep developing The Last Straw, experimenting with new dishes and bringing more Thai flavours to the local community.
And if she could give herself one piece of advice before taking on the café, it would be simple.
“Don’t be afraid to trust yourself,” Jennie said.
“You learn by doing, and you become stronger with every challenge.”
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