Rowena Corner Store

Tucked away from the chaos of Punt Road and the bustle of Bridge Road, Rowena Parade Corner Store is a local treasure that has been providing the Richmond community with their daily newspaper, milk and bread since 1956. And there’s no sign of them stopping anytime soon.

When current owner Con Coustas took the reins in 2004, he sought to extend their offerings to include simple but soulful cafe fare. The interior has gone through a number of restorations, while still hanging on to the store’s vintage charm and Mediterranean influences. The Santorini feature wall, which Coustas explains was originally affixed as a temporary and ‘kitsch’ addition, has become an iconic part of the cafe.

From the kitchen, you can expect a Mediterranean twist, including paninis, ciabattas and burgers served on Turkish bread from the Abbotsford Convent. For breakfast, you can’t ignore Mediterannean-style specialties such as Turkish cilbir and Greek kaski.

With a spacious back room and a quaint courtyard painted in green and red, the Corner Store has a variety of spaces. And while Coustas’ custom made sliding stepladder recalls grocery stores of a long, lost past and kids can still come in and stuff themselves silly from a huge range of lollies. They'll just need a few more dollars than in the fifties.