Cafe Tiffanys Donnybrook

07/04/2026

💔 Sending love and strength 🙏 Forever grateful ###x

10/03/2026

Hello all,

I had hoped to have good news as we had found a buyer; they were at the stage of lease applications to the property manager. Sadly the powers that be (property management/owner?) has advised that they aren’t going to guarantee acceptance of another tenant or lease past the July renewal date. So all I have to sell is ‘plant and equipment’ or ‘a business with nowhere to operate’. This leaves me in the devastating position of having to effectively scrap Tiffany’s for parts. After nearly 6 years of putting our all into our hospitality community this is just such a cruel blow. I haven’t ever taken a wage from the cafe, and have actually (along with my family) financially put so much into the business. As you know, it was my heart and soul and we loved the team and felt this community needs safe and welcoming affordable places to meet and be ♥️

There was a complete change in attitude to us in December from the property manager/ owner (coincidentally when they opened another coffee/drinks/dessert venue literally right next door to the cafe). Knowing we were fighting for survival, this simply broke me. These actions directly resulted in the closure of Tiffany’s. I have nothing more financially, physically or mentally to offer; especially not without support. The ‘another coffee place in Donnybrook’ is a standing joke as it’s beyond ridiculous; we already have Orchard cafe sat empty. Yet more vendors, without making the investment in floor space and seating capacity, genuinely impact the viability of larger spaces which have significantly higher costs. Without support from IGA and Shire investment respectively, Cafe 48 and Station Square would be in similar positions. We take for granted the cost, efforts and difficulties involved in hospitality.

People will say ‘that’s business’ but shame on all of us for letting business overtake basic human decency, consideration, fairness and respect. As many of you know, the same property management were also one of the main reasons for our amazing Jen’s decision to close the little chai shop. Such a loss for our town.

Thank goodness for dogs ♥️

Missing all your fabulous faces 🙏 ###

09/02/2026

Hello to all our amazing Team Tiffany’s family ♥️ Missing your love and warmth and feeding your fabulous faces.

I am just asking for expressions of interested on a couple of ideas?

If I were to do pre-prepared take home meals (individual and family), meal prep and or cake boxes and other platters? Collection or possibly delivery once or twice a week?

I have been unwell and also grieving the cafe and it’s been a very humbling and heartbreaking situation. The process is taking longer than anticipated and (whilst I can’t afford to reopen the cafe), I can’t afford to do nothing. The sale process is taking longer than expected and don’t know if this would work for the community short term?

Any thoughts?

Love and strength always
Kesh 🙏♥️###

22/01/2026

I wanted to share a huge thanks for all of the love shown to us over the last week ♥️ It has blown us away. I have had an extremely difficult time battling my brain gremlins (about letting the team, my family and the community down) and all the messages, comments and posts have meant so much.

I am so humbled that so many made posts and comments that there has even been TV and papers wanting interviews; and more messages than I can answer. I am especially touched by the multiple local businesses that have reached out to offer possible positions for the team. Whilst I have never drawn a wage for myself, providing jobs for people that I love has been so important to me. As was providing a welcoming inclusive, affordable and supportive safe space for our community. I have many flaws, and made many mistakes, but I can honestly say I gave it all I had and more 🙏

I am so grateful and hopeful at how many of you see the value in our non-financial services, intentions and purpose in what we wanted to be and what we tried to achieve. Fresh, loving, healthy, local, authentic, sustainable andd with humility 🙏

It breaks my heart that a business can be so successful in so many ways, yet the only one that gets to decide its fate is financial. If we don’t make enough to keep the numerous ATO (GST), private utilities, compulsory regulatory and realestate overloads paid up then we’re done. Especially with the exponential price increases, and according reduced discretionary spending our LGA and other branches of government have failed to address; infact proactively made worse. The rich get richer at the cost of what really matters to communities and compassionate societies 🙏

We miss you all so much and I am forever grateful ♥️ Love and strength always Kesh ###

15/01/2026

To our amazing Tiffs family,

Despite all our hopes we have had to make the heartbreaking decision, we will not be reopening the cafe and the business is officially on the market. Will you be the next custodians of this amazing community asset and attraction?

Whilst I am not a quitter, I am a strong believer in radical acceptance. There comes a time when enough is enough and some boundaries are dealbreakers. Trust is one of them. Whilst I am not going to discuss detail right now, things need to change; many have been and continue to be impacted. Without respect, honour and mind-full collaboration our business community will lose its soul; we will be left with those just in it for the money. The word business doesn’t negate the fundamental responsibility to behave with respect, integrity and morality 🙏

Thank you from the bottom of my broken but grateful heart to the amazing teammates, family and friends and all that helped us create our amazing space. I will always be so proud and grateful for what we achieved. The friendships, companionship and connections we have made will last forever. Now, more than ever, genuine hospitality and connection is what we need. This will always be our passion and our purpose ♥️

Who knows what the future holds, but we will forever be grateful for all your fabulous faces ♥️ Sending love, strength and eternal gratitude Kesh ###

11/01/2026

This is everything 🙏♥️

People say you’re just a café.

And that word… just… really sticks with me.
It niggles.

I always tell people to stop using it.
“I’m just doing this.”
No. ….You are doing this.

When we say just, we minimise ourselves. We strip pride out of what we’re building, out of what matters.

And we are not just a café.

We’re a bakery café that makes food from the heart.
We choose quality over shortcuts.
Butter over blends.
Time over speed.
Care over convenience.

But more than that, we’re a community space.

A place where people can come and just be.

We often instinctively know what someone needs.
Sometimes that’s a quiet corner and no engagement.
Sometimes it’s gently saying to a parent who’s hovering,
“Sit down. It’s okay.”

And sometimes, it’s simply sitting with someone.
No fixing. No filling the silence.
Just being there.

Children aren’t meant to sit still.
Let them play on the ramp.
Honestly, I’d want to play on the ramp too.

Have a car. Have a ball.
We’ll get on the floor and play cars down the ramp with autistic toddlers.
We’ll put your beans in a separate pot, because not everybody likes beans touching.
Ketchup on the side.
No butter.
Cheese on the side of your jacket potato.

It’s okay to ask.
It’s okay to need things differently.

You are you.
And you are allowed to be you.
In our space.

And it’s not just SEND families.

It’s elderly customers who come in for a chat because they might not speak to anyone else that day.

It’s people who pop in because they know certain staff are on and they love the honesty, the humour, the humanity.

It’s people who say, quietly,
“I come here because I don’t have to mask.”

A lot of my staff are neurodivergent, and I actively encourage them to be themselves.
No scripts.
No pretending.
No forced smiles.
And what’s incredible is that customers feel that safety too. Not because they have a diagnosis. Just because they’re human.

I’m always me now.
But for 40-odd years, I masked.

And the freedom that comes from not masking…
it lets you breathe that bit better.

So no.
We’re not just a café.

We’re a place of belonging.
Of warmth.
Of acceptance.
Of really good food made with care.

And you never have to apologise for who you are here.

06/01/2026

Hello all ♥️

Just wanted to provide an update and to say thanks for all the support and well wishes. It’s been a very challenging couple of weeks and I really appreciate your understanding and love.
I have had to extend the cafes holiday closure whilst I heal and process things. I have put all I have physically, emotionally, financially and mentally into our amazing space. Ongoing and recent events have been heartbreaking and challenging beyond my capacity. If we don’t have integrity and protection with in our business commuity, nobody can feel safe. Selfishness and greed are VERY different to viably and collective collaboration so we can all prosper.

Whilst I wish with all my heart that things could continue as before, this is simply unviable in the current environment. Especially providing dine in, freshly prepared, 7 day trading and well staffed larger spacing. I do not process the ruthlessness or ability to put business above my morals and ethics; nor would I ever want to. We have had yet another business aiming for our business without offering the expensive asprcts. Something has to change 🙏

I hope that, as a community, we can all help manifest a future for our lovely little cafe (whatever that may look like, and whomever maybe it’s owner) as I believe that now, more than ever, we need safe and welcoming spaces to connect and share.

Love and strength Kesh 🙏
Ps. Dr Barkley is taking good care of me ♥️

25/12/2025

Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful day, and a safe and abundant new year! 🥰 Thanks for all the laughter, smiles and friendship ♥️ Team Tiffany’s ###

18/12/2025

How is this time of year already?!?

With such a turbulent year in the industry, and such unpredictable trade this season, we have decided to change our Christmas closure days. Our last day open pre-Christmas will be Sunday 21st December. After that the Team will be taking a much needed and well earned week off; to rest, recover and spend quality time with loved ones 🥰

Hospitality has always been a tough industry; certainly one I underestimated before I took on the cafe. This has only been escalated the current economic environment; viability/sustainability is a real challenge. We will also take this time to work out what changes we need to make, and how/if we can navigate these increasingly challenging times. We will do all we can to still look forward to feeding your fabulous faces 🙏

Warmest thanks for all your love, support and friendship this year! And special thanks to our amazing team ♥️ They have worked their hearts out in an increasingly unpredictable, challenging and stressful industry environment. Love you guys and I am so proud of you all 🙏

Sending love and strength

Team Tiffany’s ###

01/12/2025

Looking forward to feeding your fabulous faces ♥️ Team Tiffany’s ###

25/11/2025

Mmmmmmuffins! Looking forward to finding your fabulous faces ♥️ Team Tiffany’s ###