Mark Burdon, a former farmer of the Crown Terrace, had been project managing the renovation of his house, but his daily visits to the Placemakers outlet in Glenda Dr, Frankton, had him wondering why, with all the foot traffic, there was not a coffee bar or cafe on site.
During the golf open, he started chatting with Matt Hanna - the founder of Joe's Garage and Motogrill - and talk turned to an idea Mr Hanna had developed for a cafe in a container for a site in Earl St, in the CBD.
As a temporary building, it was not allowed to go ahead in that part of Queenstown, so the idea was shelved, but after revisiting and fine-tuning those plans, the pair showed them to Queenstown Placemakers owner Matt Cleaver.
He was keen, but it took six months before they finally met chief executive John Beveridge.
In 15 minutes Mr Beveridge was convinced, with a challenge laid down to "prove the model works".
Within a month they had the container shipped and ready.
Mr Burdon, the cook, said the menu had to be "uncheffy".
His experience in the kitchen was limited to barbecues and shearing-gang tucker, so the food needed to be simple, but of the best quality.
And, of course, with Mr Hanna, a coffee king, involved, the coffee is Caffe L'affare's finest.
Mr Beveridge turned up to check it out and was impressed, Mr Hanna said.
"I think he was expecting some sort of cockroach caravan, not this slick steel box that everyone loves.
"He was dancing on the spot and taking photos of it all," Mr Hanna said.
They are hoping other Placemakers branches will want their own Smokorun franchise - there are 63 stores in New Zealand, with another 15 being built in the next 18 months.
Mr Burdon said it would be nice to think 50% of Placemakers stores would want one.
"Queenstown is probably the smallest you could be successful in.
"Our main goal will be to make sure the new outlets can provide the same high-quality food and coffee quickly and cleanly and to get to know their customer base thoroughly."
