The new owners of the Hawks Nest Bakery, now known as Kelly’s Famous Bakehouse, have plans to expand the business, using an empty shop next door to start a cafe.

Fiona and Dave Kelly, who have just taken over the business, have a wealth of experience in the industry, having run a bakery previously in Medowie.

“There’s an empty shop next door which we can access from the bakery so we will be starting up a café with coffee and homemade goods,” Mrs Kelly said.

“We want to modernise the place and make it inviting for locals and visitors. It’s just such a beautiful area here and we want to make the most of it,” she said.

The couple are well-known for their pies and breads and are excited to bring their flavours to the area.

President of the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association, Trevor Jennings, said he was very pleased to hear of the new development in Hawks Nest, an area in which the CBD is lacking life.

“A new bakery owner who is entrepreneurial will surely do well in Hawks Nest,” he said.

“Baking sufficient bread so that customers can be confident of buying some after midday would be a good start.”

He said the inclusion of a coffee shop in the adjoining shop, and its internal connection to the bakery would ensure that local residents and tourists have somewhere to sit, relax and enjoy a caffeine hit with a yummy cake.

“If this venture comes off, it will compliment the resurgence of Hawks Nest shopping centre which has recently commenced with the opening of a high quality butcher and a brilliant Indian Nepalese restaurant,” he said.

“Further, the upcoming redevelopment of the old Friendly Grocer site, adjacent to the roundabout, will re-energise the centre. All these improvements are consistent with the Progress Association’s strategic plan for Hawks Nest, which was developed a couple of years ago and is starting to come to fruition.”