Pegs Cafe at Whitebridge is more than a source of income for owner Melanie Chapman.
"Pegs is an extension of me," the mother of three said, laughing.
"It's my fourth baby, really."
Chapman's hospitality career started at Merewether's Mary Ellen Hotel. She was 18. Then the travel bug hit. Chapman was 20 when she left Newcastle and worked her way around Europe and the UK.
"It was while travelling for two years that I fell in love with what I thought was an interim job - hospitality," she said.
At the age of 26 Chapman went into business for herself, taking over the Bar Beach Bowling Club's bistro.
"I will always be so grateful for the club - they said they gave me the lease because they liked my kind eyes," she said, laughing again.
"I then took the lease at Pippis at the Point where I stayed for six years."
Pegs, though, is the business she had longed to "build, nurture and watch grow". She gutted the former fruit shop herself and transformed it into a cafe that opened in December, 2012.
"I built it from scratch. I wanted to create my own place that not only allowed me to express my love of hospitality, but extend that love to our community," she explained.
"I wanted to create a hub that could be the heart and soul of the community, and a space where customers felt comfortable and at home."
It took a global pandemic for Chapman to realise that she had achieved her goals. It was community support that kept her beloved business afloat.
"I acted rapidly to counteract every challenge and change thrown at us," she said. "I am still struggling, like others in hospitality, but I will hang in there with the amazing support of the community and my staff, who are my rocks."
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When opening Pegs Cafe, Chapman wanted to share with customers "food cooked with love, from the heart". She can't praise her chef, Blake Dyer, highly enough for sharing that philosophy.
"You can tell the difference, I think, when food is cooked with passion and enthusiasm," she said.
"Blake loves to try new things that express his creativity and his love of food. He is also the most humble, passionate, talented and caring person and I am so grateful to have him leading my kitchen."
Pegs Cafe is open seven days, 6.30am to 3pm (dine-in). They also offer take-home dinner packs and a VIP dining experience for 10. The menu is available for takeaway and delivery in the event of a COVID-imposed lockdown.
As for the name - Pegs - it is inspired by her children Polyanna, Eddie and George. And the 'S'? "It's for my fabulous staff," Chapman said.
