The Pear

Alberton locals Christie Anthoney and Joost den Hartog, a wife-and-husband duo, converted the front room of their 100-year-old vine-fronted residence into a 20-seater cafe. Then they went back to their day jobs (Anthoney is CEO of Festivals Adelaide and den Hartog is a business and media consultant).

The Pear, which opened in January 2018, is managed by a small team of locals – supported by Anthoney and Hartog – and serves coffee and food sourced as locally as possible.

Much of what’s on the menu is baked in people’s homes or delivered daily by Mayfair Bakery. The Pear also has a baker-in-residence program; a local baker comes in to use the kitchen, facilities and ingredients.

Coffee comes from Monastery Coffee Roasters. A batch brew is put on first thing each morning. Another Alberton local, Brewed by Belinda, provides hand-blended teas. There’s a mug wall for regulars to park their cup at.

From staff to suppliers, finding the right partners was always key to making the project a success. Anthoney reached out to prominent community organisations for support. The Port Adelaide Football Club and aged-care provider ECH both backed the couple’s vision. The proposal also received a $32,500 Fund My Neighbourhood grant from the state government.