SOMETIMES people buy businesses with little idea of what it looked like before they took over, but that is not the case with new Ruby's owner Kellie O'Callaghan; who has a deep and emotional connection to the cafe.
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Ms O'Callaghan and her family have been regulars for years, forming business relationships and friendships with the old owners, but most importantly it was one of her daughter's favourite places to go.
Her daughter, named Ruby, sadly died last year after bravely living for 20 years with a very rare syndrome. Her funeral was held on her 21st birthday at the cafe.
In many ways, Ms O'Callaghan said she was destined to eventually take over the business.
"I think it was always meant to be that we bought Ruby's, because Leisel and Chris [Woods] who originally owned it named it after their daughter Ruby, and then Tony [Murray] and Kane [Hartog] had it," she said.
I think it was always meant to be that we bought Ruby's.
- New Ruby's cafe owner Kellie O'Callaghan
"And I used to always think one day I would love to take over because of my Ruby, and also my mum passed away last year and she was a regular customer and they were very good to her."
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She has also been providing food to the cafe through her Sweet Violet Cakes business in the past.
One thing she has expressed serious interest in doing, is opening the outlet up at nighttime and using the outdoor section as a beer garden.
"I'd love to get a small bar licence and open it up for Friday nights and have functions down here, I think there's a lot of potential for that," she said.
"We'd love to get a kitchen garden going, but we've kept the staff and we've kept Kane and hopefully he'll stay for as long as he can.
"Because I just don't want to alienate anyone, I think it's some important to keep things the same and just add in new things, not take anything away."
Having been closed for short period of time during the handover, the opening last weekend was huge according to the new owner, who said there were new faces to go along with the regulars.
She said that was an excellent start, and is hoping to build on that to bring in more and more customers as word spreads about the new ownership.
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