Greg and Geraldine Allman owned Peppers Deli & Books in Strathdale but a competitive market forced them to sell the business. 

With a passion for people and hospitality a strong part of who they are, the pair decided to open a cafe in High Street, Golden Square. 

"There were no coffee shops around (Golden Square)," Mrs Allman said. 

"From Beechworth (Bakery) to Kangaroo Flat there were no coffee shops.

"There were about five or six around Strathdale, and there was another one going in at (Strath Village Shopping Centre) - so there would have been seven coffee shops around the area. 

"There was getting to be (too much competition) and it was getting really quiet."

Mrs Allman said the cafe opened two days before Easter and the response from nearby residents was positive.

She said the building, which had been a takeaway shop and video store in the past, was originally built to be a brewery.  

"All the locals around (Golden Square) are supporting us - it has been amazing," she said. 

"Everyone has been watching the building being renovated and thinking, 'what's going in there'."

The cafe sells gluten free sandwiches, cakes, focaccias, pies and coffee, and Mrs Allman said a chef would cook meals during the evenings.   

"It will be like steak sandwiches, open burgers, calamari, kids' meals - all that light menu sort of stuff," she said. 

"(The cafe will be) somewhere (people) can come and have a coffee and light meal, and go home."

The cafe also co-ordinates its own meals-on-wheels program each morning. 

Mrs Allman said the cafe had more than 30 clients and the meals were delivered between 9am and noon. 

"It is no revenue for us and it helps the elderly out," she said. 

The cafe is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 7am to 9pm, and Sunday and Monday from 7am to 6pm.