Emily’s Corner. Food & coffee. Just opened!
“We were looking for a soft name, something that would reflect the food and what we do.”
Leon Strachan
Owner and Manager.
It seems everyone is busy these days. People often seem to be running from one engagement to the next and when you ask people ‘how they have been’ you can almost guarantee that the word “busy” will form part of their response. I know, because I am one of those people.
On these hectic and eventful days, it is handy to know a great breakfast or lunch spot. A place where you can grab a bite to eat and a good coffee as you take a break from the to-do list. Somewhere that’s easy to access, with street parking and away from the hustle and bustle of shopping centres or large restaurant precincts. Somewhere that’s friendly, quick and affordable but serves delicious, healthy, good-quality food and, of course, excellent coffee. Somewhere like ‘Emily’s Corner.’
Emily’s Corner, located at 61A Carrington Street, Palmyra, is brand new and it is gorgeous. It’s a little place, quite literally on a corner, which specialises in takeaway breakfasts, lunches, drinks and coffees.
Apart from the takeaway option, there is also limited seating both inside or outside the café for those who would rather sit and watch the world go by.
The food at Emily’s Corner is handmade with an emphasis on it being fresh and healthy. It is the perfect place to pick up some lunch, a fresh salad to accompany your dinner or a delicious breakfast before you start your day.
Owner and Manager, Leon Strachan is passionate about good food and great coffee. He also owns and runs cafelumos in White Gum Valley, near Fremantle. Leon’s background is varied; he started out in hospitality before moving into the corporate world with roles in commerce, insurance, finance, banking and training with the Education Department. Eventually he decided to make the move back to hospitality and use all the skills he had gained from his corporate life to start his own café. cafelumos, which was opened in 2010, is a successful, sit down, a-la-carte restaurant and while it also serves takeaways and quick meals, much of that side of the business has now moved a few suburbs away to Emily’s Corner.
Emily’s Corner has an arty, eclectic feel while still being modern with clean lines. The exposed red brick feature-walls and the fresh flowers on display give it a bohemian vibe while the corner shop concept and the old building it is housed within add to the vintage aspects.
The building has a rich history. It was once a butcher shop and before that a corner store. When Leon and his team were renovating, they peeled back the paint to discover newspapers from 1935 lining the walls of the cool room. Leon tells us that the “the building has a good feel and a good energy.”
The food at Emily’s Corner ranges from snacks, muffins and slices to the more substantial burgers, wraps and sandwiches. The prices range from $4 to $12 so it is a very affordable option for lunch or breakfast. There is an emphasis on home cooked, healthy food and they can cater towards certain allergies and requirements. Everything on the menu is handmade by the chefs at Emily’s Corner and cafelumos apart from the “Raw Balls” and “Raw Slices” which are made by local companies, Rawgasm and Rawlicious.
Leon explains that he uses local produce and suppliers wherever possible and stocks several West Australian brands such as Margaret River cheeses and preserves, Voyager Estate juices and Elixir Honey from Denmark. The beautiful flower displays, which are for sale, are provided by a local business called Floral State and the coffee beans are from Australian company, Toby’s Estate.
When asked about the name “Emily’s Corner” a smile forms on Leon’s face. “Well, I’ve never been one to put my own name on a business,” he explains, “I was looking for a soft name that reflects the food we serve and what we do. I was going to call it “Teresa’s Kitchen” after my Mum and I was thinking of several other names as I have quite a few special people in my life but then I came up with Emily’s Corner. Emily is my 18 month old niece. Her brothers are not very happy though…. Might have to start up a whole chain of Corners,” he laughs.
When I entered Emily’s Corner, there was a little girl standing in the café with her mum. She had fine blonde hair and big blue eyes and was tucking into her lunch with delight. Leon came out from behind the counter and picked her up. “This is Emily” he said with a smile and she looked up at me with a cheeky grin.
I’m not sure if she knows yet that her name is on the building, but I’m sure one day she will be very proud to be the inspiration behind this fantastic new venture.
Please see our photo album below for more pictures:
Emily’s Corner
61A Carrington St, Palmyra. WA.
Opening hours:
7am – 7pm : Monday to Wednesday
7am – 8pm: Friday and Saturday
7am – 7pm: Sunday
More info….
Website: Emily’s Corner
Facebook Page: Emily’s Corner Facebook
Or look them up on Instagram and follow the journey @emilys.corner