Jaffle Shack container cafe owner champing at the bit

A controversial cafe plan for the foreshore — passed by City of Greater Geraldton council — has paved the way for the expansion of the Christian Watters-owned Jaffle Shack.

The Carnarvon-born entrepreneur said he wanted a competitive market — where all could thrive and grow in Geraldton.

The 24sqm cafe will be on the north side of the foreshore.

Gaining approval wasn’t easy for Mr Watters; his first submission was quashed.

“Not all saw the project as a good idea, ” he said. “I don’t think people jumped up and down, I think business owners jumped up and down.

“I went to the council more than a year ago with the idea and said this is what I would like to do. The council officers worked with me on what would in their view be allowed under council’s previous motions, one being no substantial buildings on the foreshore.

“When I said I wanted to do a sea container that fitted into the previous motions, they wanted a degree of flexibility so it could be removed in future.

“The councillors considered it, I can’t do more than that, and they took responses from the community as they do.

“The plan now is to get the lease documents which takes a little while; also, once I have the lease, apply to Western Power on a new site. Meanwhile, we have to now source a sea container, because 20-foot sea containers are quite rare."

“My target is to be open for the Christmas school holidays, that is my aim.”

Mr Watters has travelled the world and ended up living in London for 12 years. He came back to Geraldton and opened the Cavalia gift shop.

“The gift shop has done OK, ” he said. “Then the opportunity came to open these two, (Jaffle Shack and Fleur High Tea); we were committed to the street and committed to Geraldton, so we went for it, ” he said.

The Jaffle Shack has gone so well, it has been so embraced by the people who come here, and the staff and general community, I want to open more.

“I want to see positive change, so I love when a team can get together, like the team I have here.

“Geraldton is becoming an amazing place. To get more visitors to town is to have product, and that means great customer services and great cafes, great restaurants, great bars which people remember long after they have been to Geraldton.

“I’m always hatching plans; watch this space, for something is coming — Geraldton’s potential is unlimited.”