An inter-generational Hahndorf business will close its doors after more than 20 years.
The Kaffeehaus was founded in 2004 and has since been a family affair, with Heidi Hartnett and daughter Ashton Downing serving in the front of house, Ms Hartnett’s sisters Annette Bradford and Virginia Hall baking cakes, and their mother and grandmother, 81-year-old Anna Sames, the “backbone” of the kitchen.
“My grandma used to do all the cooking, she still does all the lunches nowadays,” Ms Downing said.
“She makes fantastic scones, sauerkraut, soups. Most people – like, everyone – love her soup.”
Ms Downing began helping at the café when she was 16.
“We could write a book from the Kaffeehaus – there’s just so many stories,” she said.
They include a regular customer who would order exactly six chips with her meal, because she would only eat six; a young boy who was photographed eating a doughnut, whose picture still hangs in the café and who now works at a local fruit and vegetable shop and drives a truck.
“We also had a lady with her two granddaughters who used to come in and sit at a particular table every day, whenever she’d pick them up from school, and have a sprinkle donut and a chocolate donut.”
“They came in for their last donuts yesterday.”
The Kaffeehaus will close on August 29.
“My family is ready and well, my grandma is also ready to retire,” Ms Downing said.
“We appreciate our customers – their loyalty and trust have been instrumental in our success.
“We feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve this community.”
