Press Release

September 30, 2009

GRAB COFFEE AND A BITE AT KAFFIEND UPON ENTERING THE ROCKET

The Rocket, CBDRobina’s newest office tower which includes a stunning waterfront retail precinct, is set to house a café whose stylish decor will match the building’s character as the business hub’s premier corporate address.

The licensed eatery, to be known as Kaffiend, will have a distinctive and appealing fitout featuring red, orange, charcoal and black and include stone dry-top bars with seating as well as tables.

Kaffiend’s meals will be in the modern Australian genre which blends European and Asian cooking styles.

The eatery will front Robina Town Centre Drive in the 1800 square metre retail precinct, at the base of The Rocket, which also fronts Lake Lido.

The tower, developed by Robina Projects Australia, is the Gold Coast City’s first building to be awarded four-star GreenStar design award certification for environmental excellence.

The cafe is the brainchild of Troy Pellowe, who has 14 years’ experience in managing Gold Coast restaurants and is establishing Kaffiend with business partner Tracey Lancaster.

Mr Pellowe says Kaffiend will be ‘funky and modern with an impressive wine list and the place you want to go to enjoy a coffee or a meal’.

“I want Kaffiend’s décor to be outstanding, funky and welcoming,” said Mr Pellowe.

“I think we have achieved that by combining sharp, impressive colours with complex textures.”

“I commissioned architect David Cuschieri, who is renowned for his designs, and he has grasped my vision and come up with something spectacular.”

Kaffiend will occupy an 80 square metre internal space and a 50 square metre alfresco dining area separated by bi-fold doors and held under a five-year lease with two five-year options.

It will operate from 6am and accommodate up to 80 people, with the alfresco area providing seating for 51.

Breakfast options will include organic and free range produce and fresh fruit along with old favourites such as bacon and eggs.

Mr Pellowe said there would be salads, foccacia sandwiches, melts, light meals and specialty dishes on the menu and the desserts selection would include a range of gelatos prepared exclusively for Kaffiend.

The restaurateur said he planned for Kaffiend on Friday afternoons to provide a place ‘where people can mingle and relax after a busy week and head home when traffic congestion has eased’.

“I want it to be a venue where people can wind down ahead of the weekend and   a selection of nibbles and tapas-style dishes will be available as an accompaniment to a glass of wine and a chat,” said Mr Pellowe.          

Robina Projects Australia General Manager Hylton Slater said Kaffiend epitomised the outstanding attributes of The Rocket – ‘a signature project for the company and an office tower without peer in the city’.

“The Rocket with companion project The Wharf forms a vibrant new lifestyle precinct beside Lake Lido with which Kaffiend is an excellent fit,” he said.

The Wharf, a $42 million project, forms the residential component of the precinct and comprises two eight-level buildings sharing 73 apartments above five commercial spaces.

“The tower will serve as CBDRobina’s premier corporate address and a café with eye-catching fitout and décor that caters to the needs of a discerning clientele is a welcome addition to the business hub,” said Mr Slater.

“Kaffiend will be joined by a range of high-quality businesses that will make the new Lake Lido precinct a significant boutique shopping and dining destination.” 

Kaffiend will employ about six staff and is scheduled to welcome its first customers in the first half of November.