Cafe integration a first for Kwinana community

When Kwinana residents visit the new Darius Wells Library and Resource Centre, it is not just borrowing books that will be on the menu.

On Monday, Dome cafe opened its doors and greeted visitors to the centre with the smell of freshly brewed coffee, officially opened by Premier Colin Barnett in January.

Dome Cafe Group managing director Nigel Oakey said it was an exciting time for the company after it first held talks with the City of Kwinana about their vision for the new community facility several years ago.

“We originally met up with the Town of Kwinana, when it was a town, they were being very proactive to encourage new enterprise to the area,” he said.

“All of us around the table said ‘wow wouldn’t it be amazing to build a community cafe in a community centre’.

“We all knew it would be a bit pioneering because it’s never been done before, but in terms of where Dome, as a brand, is ... it just seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

Mr Oakey said Dome and the City over the past few years to realise the vision of having a cafe integrated with the new library.

“You often have civic facilities that might have a kiosk-style food and beverage place, but to have a purposely designed one that’s fully integrated into a place like this in a seamless way is a first for Dome and any local government,” he said.

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said residents should feel proud to boast about the fact they had a cafe integrated with a new state-of-the-art library, which is expected to open next month.

Cr Adams hopes the opening of Dome serves as a catalyst for future business growth in Kwinana.

The cafe is managed by Kwinana resident Alexis Hopkinson and 40 jobs have been created.

Mr Oakey said having a store in Kwinana fitted in with the company’s role of being part of the gentrification of other suburbs including Canning Vale, Midland and Armadale.

“It’s been an exciting and rewarding thing to do, so on the back of our previous experience, we felt very confident this was the right thing to do,” he said.