Blue Mill Kitchen director Pam Stevenson has wanted to run her own cafe and restaurant business since she was 22.
Now, at the age of 50, she has achieved that goal.
Ms Stevenson will be leasing the Union St property which she has been renovating for the past six weeks.
She has transformed the area into the "Blue Mill Kitchen''.
Ms Stevenson said it was named for the team colours of Tokomairiro and the Highlanders.
The Mill came from the speculated origin of Milton as a shortened version of "Mill-town''.
She moved from the Waitaki Plains in North Otago to South Otago for work.
She worked for the Department of Corrections in Milton and also for New World in Mosgiel.
When the opportunity arose to start her own business, she had to take it.
"When I first resigned, I came home and thought 'what have I done'?''
However, she is now "100% sure'' it was the right decision.
"This is one of my goals and I am going to achieve it.''
She has never owned a cafe or restaurant before but believes customer service and "great coffee'' are what will make her place successful.
The kitchen will serve as a place for people to stop on their way to Wanaka or Queenstown, she said.
