Demands on time lead councillor to put Middlemarch cafe on market

A Dunedin city councillor is preparing to kiss goodbye to her Middlemarch cafe.

Kissing Gate Cafe owner Kate Wilson said she had put the cafe in Swansea St on the market because it was time-consuming juggling her cafe commitments and work as a councillor.

''I've got more and more busy being a councillor and I spend most of my weekends at the cafe ... it will be nice to have a break.''

The cafe was being sold as a going concern because she wanted to patronise the cafe after it changed ownership.

''It's a very special place ... it isn't just a cafe, it's a community meeting place ... it has a quirky community role, so it does needs a special kind of person to buy it.''

If the cafe failed to sell, she would not close it.

''I wouldn't have some friends left in Middlemarch if I allowed that to happen.''

If the cafe sold, she would miss the ''special shared moments'' with customers, many of who she considered friends''It's been wonderful.''

The business was performing well financially but a new owner could operate it more economically and invest the time needed for the cafe to reach its full potential.

The cafe was on 0.2ha of land and could seat up to 90 people if outdoor dining space was used.

The cafe had two fulltime staff and several part-time staff.

She and her husband opened the cafe 12 years ago and in that time had employed 40 people.

''I'm very proud of all the people that have worked there. It's been a great journey.''

 

 

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