Andy has been operating the milkbar on Harding Street since 2008. He set aside some time in his busy schedule to answer some questions.
What was this place before it was a milkbar?
It’s always been a milkbar I think. The original person who lived there did it for 4-5 years and then moved here. They are the ones who started it. He then sold it to the next owner, who did it for about 5 years.
Has Andy’s Cafe ever had seating?
We’ve never had seating – I think the building has always been like this. It hasn’t changed much. I think we’re the only ones who did renovating; when we came and refurbished it we made it brighter. There were a lot of old advertisements around and it was kind of messy. The walls were yellowish and the lights were quite dim. So, we closed the shop for 4 or 5 days and we did a bit of painting and a lot of moving things around.
Could you tell us about the poem outside on the window?
If I’m not at home
I’m at Andy’s Cafe
If I’m not at Andy’s Cafe
I’m on my way
We put it there when we decided to cut through the wall to get into the next room – which used to be an accounting firm — because we wanted to make a little cafe. At the beginning it was kind of difficult because when we moved in my son was in year 1 or 2. So I was by myself. We had a toaster here as well, but then we were burning the toast and croissants when I would be busy making the coffee. So it was kind of smokey as well. So we thought, this needs two man-power, not one.
Do you have future plans to make a cafe?
There’s not enough traffic to make a successful cafe. There’s never been that much traffic here. If I had opened a cafe on Sydney Road, I’d say go for it; but not here.
What’s the story with the books? (One wall in the store is dedicated to second-hand books)
The books are a long story. There was a second hand shop next to Rubys; the shop on the corner. The lady who rented out the room there to sell her second hand books couldn’t pay the rent. She asked me if I minded her bringing the books to me. I didn’t mind. So the store room became a bookstore with shelves and everything. She came every week to get the money. We did that for a few months. Slowly and slowly she began to disappear. Then I found out she moved away, and she left me with these books.
There are so many books. I asked the op-shops if they’d take the books, but they don’t want them. Initially I took them all down, but now I just put them on the shelf. And now I’m just being lazy – I can’t be bothered taking them down.
Andy’s Cafe
89A Harding St, Coburg
9378 8896
The Coburg Meddler 