With its billowy ceilings and swinging chandeliers, Pialligo Estate's Glasshouse is normally one of Canberra's most sought-after wedding venues.
But since the coronavirus shutdown forced nuptials with more than the couple, celebrant and two witnesses present to be suspended, it has become the logistical centre for Pialligo Estate's newest venture - the Pialligo Market Grocer.
Pialligo Estate's general manager Scott Taylor started the click-and-collect grocery service five weeks ago to help the business survive COVID-19 shutdown. The business had applied for JobKeeper but needed a way to "play offence, not just defence" during the crisis.
"The Glasshouse has become ground zero for the Pialligo Market Grocer. Where you would normally have brides and grooms, beautiful sultry lighting and people dancing away, we've got tables set up with grocery items and ready to heat-and-eat meals," Mr Taylor said.
But with up to 300 orders per day, it's done so well the team are about to launch home delivery this weekend. One customer has ordered 11 times in five weeks.
It wasn't easy to get up and running though.
"We're barmen and restaurateurs. What did we know about click-and-collect groceries? It was back of the napkin stuff, we were flying by the seat of our pants," Mr Taylor said.
Pialligo Estate had to build its own logistical management system ("it's not an environment where you can bring a specialist in and there's no software", Mr Taylor said) and Pialligo's chief financial officer and "Yoda of IT" Andrew Nesbitt spent an incredible amount of time on the website.
"We got it right, or close to right, within 10 days," Mr Taylor said.
The click-and-collect service was not just about helping Pialligo Estate survive.
"We're not a profit-oriented model, we're a community-service model to ensure our staff remain employed and in these crazy times and there's a bit of stability [for customers to get products]," Mr Taylor said.
"I remember going to Costco and lining up for two hours and you were never sure something was going to be there."
It was also about helping their suppliers find an avenue to market.
"While supermarket supply chains were struggling, restaurants get a different calibre of products and when all of those restaurants were closed down those suppliers were left hanging in the breeze," Mr Taylor said.
"We've got about 65 farmgate producers and we pivoted really quickly to get their retail products out.
"It's like a farmers' market but you don't have to get out of bed early to get the good bread."
And while the click-and-collect service has gone better than expected, Pialligo Estate is madly preparing for when social distancing restrictions ease and restaurants are allowed to reopen.
"It's almost as we're built our restaurant and bar to handle social distancing. We're on 50 acres with seven buildings. There's not enough people in Canberra to fill all of Pialligo so we'll be taking advantage of the physical amount of space we have and when Scotty Morrison pushes the button we'll be ready to go," Mr Taylor said.
