New life planned for Kurt's Coffee House: 'friendly, casual, signature dishes'

The Advertiser

27-05-2025

THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House.
Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year.
"I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it."
Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound.
"We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said.
While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles.
The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018.
But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention.
"It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald.
"Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere."
Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition.
"I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community."
The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named.
The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof.
When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt.
"I love old buildings," he said.
"It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back."
The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council.
Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market.
Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space.
It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming.
Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television
The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects.
University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology.
Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work".
President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence.
"Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said.
With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638.
Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley.
It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale.
Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space.
"We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023.
"Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley."
Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series.
"These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said.
"Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story."
Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW.
Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing.
"After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said.
"My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically.
"I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development.
"These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection."
Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7.
THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House.
Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year.
"I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it."
Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound.
"We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said.
While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles.
The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018.
But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention.
"It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald.
"Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere."
Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition.
"I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community."
The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named.
The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof.
When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt.
"I love old buildings," he said.
"It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back."
The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council.
Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market.
Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space.
It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming.
Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television
The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects.
University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology.
Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work".
President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence.
"Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said.
With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638.
Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley.
It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale.
Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space.
"We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023.
"Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley."
Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series.
"These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said.
"Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story."
Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW.
Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing.
"After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said.
"My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically.
"I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development.
"These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection."
Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7.
THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House.
Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year.
"I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it."
Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound.
"We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said.
While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles.
The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018.
But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention.
"It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald.
"Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere."
Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition.
"I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community."
The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named.
The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof.
When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt.
"I love old buildings," he said.
"It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back."
The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council.
Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market.
Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space.
It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming.
Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television
The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects.
University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology.
Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work".
President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence.
"Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said.
With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638.
Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley.
It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale.
Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space.
"We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023.
"Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley."
Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series.
"These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said.
"Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story."
Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW.
Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing.
"After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said.
"My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically.
"I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development.
"These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection."
Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7.
THERE are some exciting things happening in Devonshire Street with plans to breathe new life into the former Kurt's Coffee House.
Mortgage broker Darby Franklin and operations manager Kris Saunders bought the property after it was passed in at auction last year.
"I first noticed it on the internet and then I walked past it," Mr Saunders said. "It looked like a cool building, it has nice character about it."
Despite the derelict appearance of the two-level property at 3 Devonshire Street, the pair discovered the building was, for the most part, structurally sound.
"We want to keep it pretty much the same out the front, and we want to keep the aesthetic of the building," he said.
While the opening might be 12 to 18 months away, the pair have already locked in Matt McFarlane for the project, who formerly ran the popular Carrington haunt Franky's Dumplings & Noodles.
The beloved Chinese restaurant closed in March 2024. At the time, owner Mr McFarlane said he'd "run out of puff" after operating the business with his late business partner, Hua "Franky" Fan, since 2018.
But it seems this new project in the heart of Newcastle has caught his attention.
"It is definitely going to be Franky's style, but it is going to be something new," he told Newcastle Herald.
"Friendly, casual, signature dishes with a small menu and live music. We will have to have a picture of Franky on the wall somewhere."
Mr Franklin was a regular at the dumpling house and approached Mr McFarlane with a business proposition.
"I was flattered," Mr McFarlane said. "It is going to be so much work, but I think it is great. I love what Bernie's are doing and I think it will be great to be part of that community."
The building dates back to the early 1900s and operated as Kurt's Coffee Lounge from the 1970s to the 1990s. The first owner, Kurt Piccardi, was a well-known businessman and after whom the cafe was named.
The plans for the new restaurant and small bar have been lodged with Newcastle council. They include a dining space downstairs for 20 patrons, a bar, toilets and commercial kitchen. Upstairs will be an open-plan dining area for 48 patrons within the building and a rebuilt balcony with insulated roof sheeting and louvre roof.
When looking at a bird's-eye view of the building it is easy to see why the balcony needs to be rebuilt.
"I love old buildings," he said.
"It is a shell of a building, and we don't want to change it too much, but I really want to use the deck out the back."
The property is zoned for mixed-use, and the team hopes the plans for a smaller venue will get the green light from the council.
Most people already use apps to share rides, get food deliveries and organise their dating lives, but a service that matches people and businesses with places has recently cracked the Hunter market.
Vennu is a platform that lists community assets and matches them with people seeking spaces for all kinds of activities and events. For example, the platform has partnered with Marine Rescue NSW, and one of the newest listings is the Marine Rescue Newcastle meeting rooms, which can be hired by other businesses that require a conference space.
It is not just business suites and formal events either, Vennu has a collaboration with Screen NSW and hires out spaces and locations for filming.
Glenworth Valley's 3000-acre wilderness Epworth House on the Central Coast is one of the sites listed for hire for film and television
The platform is open to people who need venues for workshops, events, meetings, or creative projects.
University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton is now a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
He is internationally renowned for his contributions to electrical engineering, having pioneered work on fundamental limitations in control system design and practical aspects of process control, telecommunications, power electronics and systems biology.
Professor Middleton described the appointment as "a great honour" and thanked colleagues and students for creating the "amazing and rich intellectual environment that nurtured and supported my work".
President of the Academy, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said the new Fellows of 2025 represented the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence.
"Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge," he said.
With the election of the 26 new Fellows in 2025, the Australian Academy of Science Fellowship now stands at 638.
Design lovers and treasure seekers have a new reason to visit the Hunter Valley.
It's called The Trove, and it's a homewares and art collective housed at Leaves & Fishes in Lovedale.
Blending global aesthetics with local character, The Trove is an ever-evolving collection of homewares, furniture, living plants and original artworks - each piece handpicked for its craftsmanship, story, and ability to transform a space.
"We wanted to create a space that celebrates individuality and promotes sustainability," Kristy McGuigan said. She bought Leaves & Fishes with her husband, Aaron, in early 2023.
"Every piece has been selected to reflect a sense of discovery and a global perspective, while staying true to the relaxed, earthy essence of Leaves & Fishes and the Hunter Valley."
Hunter Valley artist Rebecca Rath's large-scale oil paintings have featured in The Trove's first exhibition, Of Land and Light, including pieces from her My Pokolbin, Hawkesbury and Wollemi series.
"These paintings represent pivotal moments in my artistic journey," Ms Rath said.
"Bringing them into a space designed for beautiful living feels like the perfect way to share their story."
Ms Rath began her artistic journey at Hornsby TAFE in 1992 before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW.
Her chosen medium is en plein air painting and drawing.
"After moving from Sydney to the Hunter Valley over 20 years ago, my work naturally shifted toward painting landscapes," she said.
"My practice is grounded in the act of finding, both literally and metaphorically.
"I seek out landscapes that evoke stillness, tension, or transition - places where light shifts, seasons change, and the land sits on the edge of development.
"These spaces offer both visual inspiration and moments of personal reflection."
Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and her solo exhibition, Found, opens at Maitland Regional Art Gallery on June 7.