Calls for a boycott of the new cafe in Elouera surf club failed to stop a big opening day.
Bianchini’s Espresso was packed from 7am until about 2.30pm, and staff served up more than 800 cups of coffee and hundreds of meals.
More than a dozen patrons spoken to by the Leader after the lunch period had ended were full of praise for the new outlet, highlighting the views, food and service.
While there was general awareness the cafe was operated by Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo Pesce, most didn’t think it mattered as long as the tender process was transparent.
“Good luck to him,” said one man.
The boycott call was initiated by leaders of the unsuccessful campaign to save the Cronulla Women’s Health centre.
Their target, Cr Pesce, who also owns Bianchini’s Espresso cafes in Cronulla and Gymea.
He said, before he submitted a tender, he had checked with the council’s general manager Scott Phillips and was told, as long as it was a public tender, there was no problem.
Cr Pesce was hit with a torrent of abuse on social media after the Leader reported the Elouera cafe would open on Thursday, with several posts encouraging a boycott of the cafe.
However, he said 90 per cent of the feedback was positive.
Cr Pesce said Annette Hogan, a leader of the campaign to save the Cronulla Women’s Health Centre “has been telling everyone to boycott us”.
Ms Hogan rejected the claim, saying, “I did not organise any boycott, and did not encourage anyone else”.
Cr Pesce said he employed about 40 staff, who live in the shire, at his cafes in Gymea, Cronulla and Elouera.
“Seventy per cent of people have to go outside the shire for work, so providing local jobs in very important.”
Cr Pesce said Elouera Surf Life Saving Club was very excited about the cafe opening,
“This was the only Bate Bay surf club that didn’t have a cafe, and Elouera club member are offered a five per cent discount.
Cr Pesce said the approved opening hours of the cafe, which seats 55, were 7am to 7pm, but they would trial the closing time.
