The motivation for the special Christmas service has come from several of the café’s regular clientele, who would otherwise be spending the day alone.
Judith and Lisa opened the café in April last year and have developed a reputation for building strong relationships with their Mackay St cafe customers.
“A few of our customers have indicated that they will be along on Christmas Day,” Judith said.
“Two of my three kids are going elsewhere for Christmas lunch and for about a month now Lisa and I have been toying with the idea of opening on Christmas Day.
“Now it is happening,” she said.
“We’ve got quite a few customers who live on their own. It would be awful for them not to be able to enjoy some company on Christmas Day,” she said.
Judith and Lisa are not limiting the Christmas luncheon strictly to their café clients, throwing open the doors for anyone from the Rochester community who would prefer to be among others for the special celebration.
“Anybody can come, as long as they book,” Judith said.
“This is an event particularly for those that don’t have a family to share Christmas Day with,” she said.
Bookings for the event will be taken right up to close of business on Friday, with Judith and Lisa applying a modest $25 cost for the two-course luncheon.
“It will be one big table with a family lunch atmosphere at the café.
“They’ll be enjoying a hot roast and Christmas pudding,” she said.
The Café Rochester owners said for many of their customers a coffee and chat was a daily staple of life.
“It’s the first time we’ve done something like this, but it looks like it will be well patronised,” Judith said.
The café can cater for up to 40 people, but doesn’t expect that every seat will be filled on the day.
The café will be open normal hours this week, closing at 2pm on Friday to prepare for the luncheon.
“After lunch Lisa and I will head home and prepare for our own event that night. We will then be closed on the Monday and Tuesday the following week,” Judith said.
There are already bookings in place for Christmas Day, but the pair doesn’t have any expectations.
“It will be an event simply to accommodate those that don’t have a fun family Christmas lunch. It doesn’t matter how many are there,” she said.
Judith said her own inspiration for the event came from knowing that her own family wouldn’t be together at Christmas lunch, then adapting that situation to a positive for the community.
“We were going to be home alone and I thought we should be sharing this time.
“Lisa and I will be preparing the lunch, possibly Lisa’s kids, her husband and my husband will also be chipping in,” she said.
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