The Birdy Bar crew have expanded their offerings. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Only 18 months on from purchasing and remodelling The Birdy Bar at one end of Baylis Street, owners Chris Hawe and Chelsea Cleary have decided to take on a new challenge.
The team behind one of Wagga’s premier late-night destinations have decided to open their doors for the early morning hustle and bustle.
As a new expansion right next door to the Birdy Bar, Birdy Brew offers Wagga residents the opportunity to grab a coffee from 7 am to midnight (on select nights).
After noticing a relatively quiet coffee scene on the Morrow Street side of Baylis Street, the Birdy crew swooped in and jumped on the opportunity.
“It’s pretty much just a carry-on from the Birdie Bar,” Chris said.
“We took our coffee option from the bar and wanted to look at a new and different demographic we could appeal to.
“We got offered the space at the end of last year. We needed more storage space, so we thought, ‘Well, what else can we do with the space?’
“So we thought, we’ll convert the front of it into a coffee shop and then use it as a function and an event space as well.”
Mr Hawe said Birdy Brew would open from 7 am to 3 pm, seven days a week. While on Friday to Sunday, once the coffee shop is closed, customers will still be able to purchase coffee from the bar next door right up until close at midnight.
“This end of town, there was no strong coffee offering, and we thought there was a gap in the market,” Chris said.
“We’ve got the new Medicare facility across the road. We’ve got the correctional officers, the nurses and doctors association, accountants and even council all within eyeshot of where we are. There are a lot of businesses here.
“We’re already seeing, within a week, a lot of repetitive customers are already coming through from those areas.”
Chris said the reception to the new area had been extremely positive and was proving to be a positive addition to the Birdy brand.
“We officially opened last Wednesday, and then it’s been a great reception,” he said.
“Every day we’re getting busier and busier with our food offering. We’re looking more at that sort of grab-and-go kind of option. Things like wrap sandwiches, croissants, sweets, and then with our drinks, we’re going to continue to expand from doing your normal coffees to shakes, smoothies, and in the summertime, looking at juices in that as well.”
Birdy Brew and the Birdy Bar are at 246 Baylis St, Wagga Wagga.
