Roam Cafe charts new waters

Elysabeth Wolter calls her business "the little cafe with a lot going on" and it's an apt description.

Ms Wolter took over Roam Cafe in January and in very short order she has created a busy operation from its home in the old Cosmopolitan Club building on the corner of Drews Ave and Rutland St.

This weekend another innovation kicks into gear with live music in the Arena bar behind the cafe.

Along with chef-manager Jacqui Clark, Ms Wolter has been proactive in creating something a bit different with the business.

"The cafe was a little run down and we've got that up and going. We've changed the menu and starting to get our own niche established there," she said.

"We started off with our high teas because they are a nice fit with the age of the building. They've been very popular."

Roam Cafe is open 7.30am-4.30pm weekdays and 9am-4pm Saturday and 10.30am-4pm Sundays.

But this Sunday signals a new direction with the Arena bar introducing live music from 2pm.

The bar has been open to the general public Thursday and Friday nights but she is keen to get trade up and running on Saturdays. At the moment Saturday is reserved for private functions.

"We're adding the Sunday trading hours to the mix from this weekend. We're fully licensed so visitors can have a meal and coffee or a drink if they want and stay later for a bar meal," Ms Wolter said.

"We'll be open until late, depending on what the customers want because our licence lets us trade through until midnight."

The Sunday gigs will be launched by the Black Duo, featuring Kupe Renata and Tobias Waitokia-Marshall.

"We'll build it up slowly but we want to be open every Sunday and we want to use Wanganui talent as much as we can," she said.

The cafe has a board room that is hired out for business meetings, lunches and high teas. There is also a mothers' room with a play area for children.

And the Arena Bar will also host a tattoo show on July 20.

There's something else Ms Wolter and Ms Clark are working up as well and it's because of a connection both have with the Gisborne area. It will see the bar offer a range of boutique Gisborne wines.