Contrary to popular belief, Cannonball Café was not created as a place for designer mums to hang their Hermès handbags. “We didn’t just start it because we were idle,” Wendy Facey (right), co-owner of Cannonball Café says with a smile, “we just wanted somewhere for people to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, and good conversation, or maybe a book or work on their computer.” And while it may have started small, as a hobby, it has grown into something much bigger.

The Cannonball Café story is one that has contributed to a subtle shift in the social stirrings of many Kingstonians. “What has been fascinating,” adds Tara Abraham-Clivio, Cannonball’s other owner, “is the shift in the coffee drinking culture. We didn’t encourage it, it just happened over time, with more people coming to enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.” So much so, it seems, that a second and third location swiftly followed the initial location in Manor Park.

At 400 square feet, the Manor Park location was their ‘baby’, one that grew too big for its crib, forcing them to find new locations. The second location in New Kingston catered to the city set, was twice the size and a “little more snazzy,” Abrahams-Clivio says. With the Barbican location, the darker colours, and more intimate ambience were introduced to draw an evening crowd. While each location has it’s own character, some things were essential: friendly service, top-notch quality, good music and cosmopolitan décor. “We do not pretend to be something we are not,” Abrahams-Clivio says, “we do different foods and we stick to our niche.” They insist however, that this does not mean expensive. They provide quality food, and as such, the price bracket is higher, but still offers value for money. For example, their breakfast special – $230 for a bagel, eggs, bacon and coffee – is comparable to a Burger King breakfast.

Operating within this niche, Cannonball Café faced a number of additional challenges when it came to existing beyond just one location. Consistency was essential. They could no longer be in all places at once, forcing them to depend more on their staff and working managers. They were also forced to put a number of systems in place that would more effectively track the daily comings and goings. “We couldn’t fly by the seat of our pants anymore,” Abrahams-Clivio says. “It got a little more serious, we had to become more efficient.”

POS Systems, food cost percentages, and presentation standards became daily jargon as the Cannonball Café empire continued to increase, now reaching out into merchandising, selling T-shirts and music, as well as reaching out to the children. “We realised that designer mums have designer children,” she says laughing, “and so we are reaching out to them also!”