Tucked inside the heritage-listed Paragon Theatre, a Childers landmakr lovingly restored and cared for by the current owner, you'll find our little retro espresso bar. We're proud to pour coffee and shakes under one of Queensland's most treasured roofs. Pull up a chair and meet the family behind the counter.
Every great cafe has a story, and ours starts with Merissa Craft. Her grandparents, Charlie and Marietta Ricciardi, bought the Paragon Theatre in 1962. Years later Merissa bought it from them and brought the old girl back to life. She opened the Espresso Bar in 2015 to help keep the lights on and the doors open for the next generation.
Merissa is still the loving owner and caretaker of the theatre today, looking after this Childers landmark with the same love her family always had.
If you've been in recently, you've probably met Marley. She runs the show with a smile that can be seen from the street, and has the kind of positivity that just rubs off on everyone. Whether you're ordering a Long black or a Double Choc Thick Shake, Marley wants you walking out a little happier than when you walked in.
With strong experience in the hospitality and accomodation industry, having worked for the Hamilton Island Resort, Marley knows her stuff!
Marley's parents, Jeremy and Catherine, bought the business so their talented daughter could make it her own. They're big believers in community. Jeremy has more than 25 years in frontline firefighting and emergency response, and Catherine has 15 years as a Registered Nurse across Queensland and New South Wales. Together, they run Training Centre Hervey Bay and BDA Training, giving Queenslanders the confidence to step up when it counts.
Their own family journey taught them what really matters: family, looking out for each other and making every moment count. That's the spirit we serve in every cup.
Got questions? We've got the answers. Here are some of the most common things our customers ask before getting started.
We're inside the heritage-listed Paragon Theatre at 75 Churchill Street, right on the Bruce Highway in the middle of town. Loof for the big arched marquee. It's an easy coffee stop whether you're heading north to Bundaberg or south to Hervey Bay.
We're a separately run cafe inside the theatre. The Paragon Theatre is owned and cared for by Merissa Craft, who restored this Childers landmark and first opened the Espresso Bar in 2015. Today, the cafe is run by Marley and her family, and we're proud to call the Paragon home.
We serve specialty coffee from Veneziano Coffee Roasters. Soft serve ice-cream, milkshakes and thickshakes are coming soon, along with more family options. Pop in and ask the team what's on today.