Full steam ahead for new Engine Room Cafe and gift shop
WHEN Terry and Leanne Jennings were given just 60 days to vacate the Ruthven St building which was home to their Avalon Crystals gift shop for 11 years, the couple was sent into a panic.
However, the new owners of the Engine Room Cafe and Gifts on Railway St now see that forced move as a "blessing".
"At first, when we were given 60 days to move it was 'Oh My God, what are we going to do?' " Mr Jennings explained.
"But we moved in here (Engine Room) in just 45 days and now we see the move as a blessing in disguise."
A qualified pastry chef, Mr Jennings previously spent time working on Hamilton Island.
With the move to the Engine Room, the couple now combines a gift shop with an extended cafe and are looking to grow the business into the future.
"I think this street (Railway St) is going to be the Eat Street of Toowoomba, it will take over from Margaret St," Mr Jennings said.
"Everything here is made on the premises, the cakes, slices, pastries... we even make our own hollandaise sauce.
"And, we have a beautiful Belaroma Blend 25 coffee which is really popular.
"There is a kid's corner to keep the young ones happy, an outdoor deck which can cater for 35 people and we can have 160 in the function room.
"We are a BYO venue as well and we're home to Toowoomba's best breakfast. On Sundays for breakfast, it's best to book.
"We're a destination now."
With all that is going on in Toowoomba, the future looked bright for the Garden City and businesses like the Engine Room Cafe.
"The beauty of being here in Toowoomba is that everything is so close, particularly if you need something," he said.
"If you need something from Brisbane you can have it up here by the afternoon."
Source: Toowoomba Chronicle, Peter Hardwick, 5th August 2015
Originally published as: Full steam ahead for new Engine Room Cafe and gift shop
