Former owners of vacant cafe to re-open popular facility

Perth Now

5 hours ago

Old is about to become new again at the Fremantle Arts Centre, where the former operators of the now vacant cafe are returning to re-open the popular facility.
The City of Fremantle confirmed Loan and Triet Ly, who ran Canvas Cafe at the centre for more than a decade, intend to bring coffee, cakes and even picnic baskets back from September under a refreshed and re-badged fit out.
The cafe, to be called Plated, will serve modern Australian seasonal food seven days a week.
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It will also provide catering for events and exhibitions at the arts centre, including picnic baskets and high tea options.
'From a business point of view, we decided that this is the right opportunity for our family,' Ms Ly said.
'After finishing Canvas Cafe in 2022, we took the time to rest, reflect, travel and start a new business. Now that our business in Victoria Park has been established and is steady, it's a good time for us to return to the arts centre, pick up where we left off and make it even better.' City of Fremantle CEO Glen Dougall and mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge flank Plated cafe owners Loan and Triet Ly. Credit: Supplied/City of Fremantle / City of Fremantle
The cafe and Fremantle Leisure Centre's swimming pool kiosk closed suddenly in February after a meeting between former owner Gavin Wilcock and City of Fremantle officials two days earlier.
Mr Wilcock told PerthNow he closed both city-owned locations because he couldn't see a way that customers would cop another price hike after the backlash he received when the cost of croissants and other cabinet treats went up 20c in December.
The kiosk at Fremantle Leisure Centre will also re-open in about two months, rebadged as Leisure and Bean and complete with an alfresco area facing Shuffrey Street.
New owners Walter Goss and Anne-Kathrin Jahn previously ran Little Stove cafe in Bicton before selling up to travel the world in late 2023.
'What we enjoyed most about our time at Little Stove was being part of a community and providing a space for people to come for coffee, food and conversation. This will be our main goal for Leisure and Bean as well,' Mr Goss said.
'After taking some personal time to travel and recharge, it has only reminded us that we live in one of the most beautiful spots on earth and we were thrilled when the opportunity presented itself to run a community and neighbourhood-based project in our own backyard again.'
City of Fremantle chief executive Glen Dougall said both cafe operators had signed long-term leases.
'We've managed to attract some really top-quality hospitality professionals, and we couldn't be happier with the outcome,' Mr Dougall said.