When Darling Oyster Bar owner Mark Loughlin decided to close his business in September 2016, he was looking to make a move away from the city.
“I was in a bit of a mood at the time,” he said.
“A lot of people are looking to the west, but not necessarily wanting to move to the east, and I think I was just looking for a bit more of a break.”
But when his business began to lose customers, he began to think about moving to the north-west.
“When you are talking about a business that has been there for 25 years, you want to see that you are growing, that you aren’t going anywhere,” he told 7.30.
He said it was not until he visited a local shop that he realised he had missed out on the opportunity to expand his business further.
“They just came out with this lovely little café on a small plot of land in the middle of nowhere,” he explained.
“It’s been there since I opened the doors and it’s been a great place to hang out.”
His cafe was soon taken over by a local family and soon became one of Darling Oysters main drawcards.
“The family has always been really supportive,” he added.
“One of the things they have always been great about is being able to host weddings and family reunions.”
Mark Louglin says his business has grown with the help of his family and local community.
Photo: David Humphreys “I don’t think we ever expected to see a restaurant become so successful.”
Now Loughlins business is thriving and he is looking forward to seeing the new family come in next week.
“We have a family of five, we have four children,” he laughed.
“There’s four of us and a couple of kids.
We are all very happy and excited about what’s to come.”
The family business is currently looking to expand to the rest of the city, which will mean they will be open on a full-time basis for a full four weeks in October.
“Our focus right now is to make sure we are providing a great atmosphere, a great dining experience, and a great coffee,” he noted.
“So we are very excited to open.”
The bar will have a full menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, including vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free options.
Loughlings business is one of five to be opened in the area over the next year, with other bars in the region including Darling, Redlindie, The Old Man’s Grotto, and Auld Teak.
“All the people in the CBD are looking forward for this opportunity, it’s going to be a great opportunity for them,” he concluded.
“You never know what the future holds.”
The Darling Oysters Facebook page has been set up to help celebrate the new venture.
“Welcome to Darling Oyscast,” it states.
“Darling Oyster is pleased to announce that we will be opening a new cafe in the Darling city centre in October 2018.”
“The Darling Oysmaster is a small but vibrant family business with a great team, and the new cafe will provide a welcoming environment for Darling Oystar customers and locals alike.”
The cafe will open its doors on Thursday October 5, and it is expected to open on Wednesday November 7.
“What’s exciting about Darling Oyspot is that it will be able to serve local customers as well as visiting tourists,” Loughlins new owner told 7 theatrhythm.
“If you want a quiet and relaxed place to meet and chat and drink, Darling Oy Spot is for you.”
Darling Osprey owner Mark Ospreys business is looking to open soon. Photo
