NEW DOG-FRIENDLY CAFÉ SIX OUNCES ADDS TO GROWING TREND IN CHRISTCHURCH
Source: Stuff (Extract)
Posted: June 9, 2021
Man’s best friend has earned a seat at the table.
The number of dog-friendly hospitality joints in Christchurch is on the rise with the latest addition – Six Ounces café in Merivale – featuring resident puppy Brixton.
The 4-month-old American Staffordshire has taken on her role as devoted pet and clever marketing tool with open paws, turning on the charm for the café’s website and social media pictures, as visiting customers keen for a cuddle.
“She’s a monkey. She loves people and other dogs, the battle sometimes is getting her to chill out,” Six Ounces co-owner Lois Parmenter said.
Parmenter and fiancé Avi Cohen were a two-person band working Monday to Saturday to keep the café running.
They had been “flat out” since opening in April, and hoped to employ more staff so they could open in the evenings and on Sundays.
Cohen was the driving force behind Six Ounces’ day-to-day operations. He was there from 7am through to the late evening, making coffees, sandwiches, fillings and more to keep stock up, as well as serving any customers throughout the day.
Parmenter looked after the books and marketing, helped out with service where she could, and kept a close eye on Brixton.
The couple met while working at The Depot Eatery in Auckland in 2013. They worked together in the wine industry in Queenstown briefly, before moving to London and running their own pub for five years. Christchurch was home though, and they always knew they would return eventually.
Brixton the pup was at the café every day and Parmenter “works when she sleeps”.
Six Ounces was designed so people could grab a coffee or bite to eat in a hurry, but was also a spot where people could hang out for hours if they wanted. There were dog treats at the counter and a water bowl outside, and pups were allowed inside to hang out.
The couple did most of the café’s fit-out themselves, apart from the plumbing and electricity. They found furniture from second hand stores and repurposed it to suit, and Cohen built the bar.
“We wanted to make it feel like a living room, so you can pop in and out or sit down, relax, and have a chat,” Parmenter said.
Parmenter was born in England and Cohen was born in the United States, then moved to France. Cohen moved to New Zealand with his family when he was 10, and saw Christchurch as his home and always knew he wanted to settle there.
Six Ounces is located at 178 Papanui Rd, Merivale, Christchurch 8014.
