The City of Fremantle has announced the operators set to end a 13-month vacancy at two of the locality’s most favoured cafes.
After confidential deliberations, G.A.P Kitchen owners Gavin and Penny Wilcock were revealed last week as the pair preferred to lead the Fremantle Arts Centre cafe and Fremantle Leisure Centre kiosk in a joint lease.
The couple said they had been looking for the right opportunity to live and work in the State after managing their catering company in Alice Springs.
Mr Wilcock is no stranger to the southern suburbs, having been previously an executive chef at Fremantle’s The Esplanade Hotel for two years.
He was also previously an executive chef and director of food and beverage with the InterContinental Hotel Group for eight years.
“It’s humbling to have our achievements recognised and valued,” he said.
“We started our business from nothing, making jam and chutneys, and have built it into a thriving company.”
He said he was looking forward to returning to the community.
“We want to build trust in the community and get a feeling for what they want to eat in these places,” he said.
The takeover comes after more than a year of vacancy at the council-owed sites, following the end of the Canvas Cafe’s tenure in August last year to make way for a competitive leasing process.
The requested lease term was 10 years with no option periods.
Both properties were advertised across multiple platforms between May 2022 and July this year and while a preferred operator was shortlisted in October last year, the applicant later discontinued the process for financial reasons.
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said she was pleased the facility could reopen.
“The chosen operator has a track record of working with communities to create appropriate and interesting menus and I think they could be a real asset to Fremantle,” she said.
“Council’s decision reinforces our desire to attract new business to Fremantle.
“Gavin and Penny are making a lifestyle choice to relocate here and dedicate themselves to this new opportunity.”
The city said it was working to secure temporary food and beverage options for the venue over summer and compliance works would be held before the new tenants moved in.