Newcastle’s newest eatery is set to open its doors next week after its owner transformed a clinic into a cosy international café.
Fresco Café and Eatery will launch on Monday, November 4, with the Merrial Street venue offering a range of British, Polish and Italian food seven days a week.
The town centre café was previously a private ultrasound scanning clinic – and owner Ella Kacala, who moved to the UK from Poland 18 years ago, has designed the welcoming look of her new venture herself.
After three months of renovations and decorating, Fresco – Italian for ‘fresh’ – aims to welcome a diverse range of customers. The dog-friendly café offers wifi and charging ports for socialising, work and study during the day and will become a candle-lit venue in the early evening.
Ella decided to open her own café after being inspired by restaurants during a holiday in Italy with her daughter last year. But she’s no stranger to the food industry, having previously operated a snack van and canteen-like portacabin on Stone Business Park.
Ella, who worked in New Look’s Chesterton warehouse for 10 years, said: “I started cooking when I was 15. My parents were both working full-time, and we had a farm as well, so I used to cook the dinners all the time. We will be using some of my family recipes from my mum and grandma on the menu.
“I started with nothing and I am here today. It has all been done from scratch, including the kitchen. I am putting everything into this – my heart, my time, all my feelings.
“I’m so nervous about opening because it’s something new for me, but being in the town centre in Newcastle is great. People have been asking us when we are opening and are looking forward to visiting.”
The café, which employs four staff alongside Ella, will initially be open from 8:30am to 7pm seven days a week – with Ella planning to review the opening hours according to demand once the business is established.
