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Wander down the main street at Marks Point and you'll find a fish and chip shop, a hairdresser, a newsagency and a sea breeze. The beating heart of this lakeside "village" is Marks Point Post Office & Cafe. Previous owners Colin and Denise [Batchelor] laid the foundations when they bought the dual business in 2010 and new owner Samantha Boland is quickly cementing its status as a community hub. Read more: Word of Mouth: Handled with care Basically, there's a post office on one side of the small building and a cafe on the other, plus plenty of outdoor seating where you can soak up the sun. And then there's the bubbly Boland, who lives in Marks Point with her partner, Paul, and three-year-old son. She studied hospitality and catering management at TAFE NSW and went on to work in hotels, restaurants and cafes in Australia and overseas, including a stint cooking in Spain and the French Alps. "I have dreamed of having my own cafe for many years," she told Food & Wine. "I have looked at buying businesses over the years but the universe never quite lined up. Then I heard through the Marks Point grapevine that Colin and Denise were considering selling the post office and its cafe. "I never thought I'd own a post office but it was a package deal - and I'm always up for a challenge." Boland quickly put her own stamp - no pun intended - on the business. She says she has "a long list of ideas up my sleeve" but is taking her time introducing them, evaluating what works and what doesn't. Customer service, though, comes first. "The most important thing I offer customers is personal, consistent service - which isn't hard because I already know half the neighbourhood from living here and I can talk the leg off a chair," she said, laughing. "Next on my list is great, consistent coffee and wholesome, home-cooked food with a good variety so the menu appeals to a wide range of people. I usually do most of the menu planning based on food that I like and was brought up on. I often ring my Mum asking for her recipes, tips and secrets." The menu is dine in or take away, which Boland says is proving popular with elderly customers, shift workers and busy parents grabbing dinner on their way home of an evening. "We are really reasonably priced so it doesn't blow the budget. I always put our food of the day and special offers up on Facebook and Instagram every day so people know what's on offer other than the standard menu," Boland said. The cafe also has a delicatessen which stocks cheese, salami, olives, relish, pickles, dukkah and sourdough; free-range eggs; local honey and a range of arts, crafts and giftwares. "I try to support other local small businesses and artisans where I can," she said. Boland loves a chat and a laugh. Her personality is as much a drawcard as the home-style comfort food she prepares with love. "People often call in for a coffee and end up running into friends or neighbours and end up staying for lunch," she said. "Other people that are new to the area have made friends with some of our locals at the cafe. People use our space for business meetings, birthdays and even nursing home outings. We often have 'Buskers Brekkys' - which is live music on Saturday mornings - in the garden and they have been a huge hit every time. We have three more planned before Christmas." Marks Point Post Office & Cafe will be opening on Sundays at the end of this month, which will no doubt prove popular during the summer months. Also, the venue will open for BYO dinners in early November. "We will have things like theme nights, buffets, wine tasting and tapas nights," Boland said. "Also, we are connected to a boutique family winery up in the Hunter Valley and will be doing excursions up there along the lines of 'paddock to plate' mentality. We are all about the fun experience, not just the coffee and food."
WARM WELCOME: Meet Samantha Boland, who owns Marks Point Post Office & Cafe. Picture by Simone De Peak
Wander down the main street at Marks Point and you'll find a fish and chip shop, a hairdresser, a newsagency and a sea breeze.
The beating heart of this lakeside "village" is Marks Point Post Office & Cafe. Previous owners Colin and Denise [Batchelor] laid the foundations when they bought the dual business in 2010 and new owner Samantha Boland is quickly cementing its status as a community hub.
Basically, there's a post office on one side of the small building and a cafe on the other, plus plenty of outdoor seating where you can soak up the sun. And then there's the bubbly Boland, who lives in Marks Point with her partner, Paul, and three-year-old son. She studied hospitality and catering management at TAFE NSW and went on to work in hotels, restaurants and cafes in Australia and overseas, including a stint cooking in Spain and the French Alps.
"I have dreamed of having my own cafe for many years," she told Food & Wine.
"I have looked at buying businesses over the years but the universe never quite lined up. Then I heard through the Marks Point grapevine that Colin and Denise were considering selling the post office and its cafe.
"I never thought I'd own a post office but it was a package deal - and I'm always up for a challenge."
Boland quickly put her own stamp - no pun intended - on the business. She says she has "a long list of ideas up my sleeve" but is taking her time introducing them, evaluating what works and what doesn't. Customer service, though, comes first.
Samantha Boland, owner of Marks Point Post Office & Cafe, with a homemade Mexican pie. Picture: Simone De Peak
"The most important thing I offer customers is personal, consistent service - which isn't hard because I already know half the neighbourhood from living here and I can talk the leg off a chair," she said, laughing.
"Next on my list is great, consistent coffee and wholesome, home-cooked food with a good variety so the menu appeals to a wide range of people. I usually do most of the menu planning based on food that I like and was brought up on. I often ring my Mum asking for her recipes, tips and secrets."
The menu is dine in or take away, which Boland says is proving popular with elderly customers, shift workers and busy parents grabbing dinner on their way home of an evening.
"We are really reasonably priced so it doesn't blow the budget. I always put our food of the day and special offers up on Facebook and Instagram every day so people know what's on offer other than the standard menu," Boland said.
The cafe also has a delicatessen which stocks cheese, salami, olives, relish, pickles, dukkah and sourdough; free-range eggs; local honey and a range of arts, crafts and giftwares.
"I try to support other local small businesses and artisans where I can," she said.
Boland loves a chat and a laugh. Her personality is as much a drawcard as the home-style comfort food she prepares with love.
"People often call in for a coffee and end up running into friends or neighbours and end up staying for lunch," she said.
"Other people that are new to the area have made friends with some of our locals at the cafe. People use our space for business meetings, birthdays and even nursing home outings. We often have 'Buskers Brekkys' - which is live music on Saturday mornings - in the garden and they have been a huge hit every time. We have three more planned before Christmas."
Marks Point Post Office & Cafe will be opening on Sundays at the end of this month, which will no doubt prove popular during the summer months. Also, the venue will open for BYO dinners in early November.
"We will have things like theme nights, buffets, wine tasting and tapas nights," Boland said.
"Also, we are connected to a boutique family winery up in the Hunter Valley and will be doing excursions up there along the lines of 'paddock to plate' mentality. We are all about the fun experience, not just the coffee and food."
