KATIE’S Kafe has started its new chapter after officially closing the doors on its Gidley Street premises and moving full-time into the Freemasons Hotel on Monday 27 July.
Owner, Kate Neil, said the move had come about as the business continued to grow, with the new location providing a better position while allowing her to expand the menu beyond the traditional takeaway fare that first made Katie’s Kafe a local favourite.
“It’s just a better location,” she said. “We evolved pretty quickly.”
Katie’s Kafe began as a food van in March 2025, after Ms Neil spent a few years working as a roustabout in shearing sheds.
She said she wanted a career that would allow her to socialise and meet people, with the isolation and physical demands of working in shearing sheds eventually prompting her to pursue a career in hospitality.
Starting with the food van, Ms Neil set out to provide the town with an old-fashioned takeaway option, offering food such as toasties, burgers and sandwiches.
The business then moved to premises at Gidley Street before making its latest jump to the Freemasons Hotel.
Now, customers can enjoy everything from a bacon and egg roll or toastie to a rump steak or pie, with the business offering both its familiar takeaway-style options and bistro meals.
Katie’s Kafe is open from around 6.30am until 3pm seven days a week, with dinner available from Wednesday through to Saturday evenings.
Ms Neil said the first few days at the Freemasons Hotel had been particularly full on.
“We’ve been really busy here the last four days that we’ve been open, which has been good,” she said.
The bistro is also providing a space for Ms Neil to collaborate with other local businesses, like Short Bread Bakery and Eden Decor and Gifts, who are stocking products within the venue.
The move to the Freemasons Hotel has allowed Katie’s Kafe to continue growing while also helping other local businesses.
For Ms Neil, one of the biggest rewards of running Katie’s Kafe has been the opportunity to connect with the community.
“My thing is probably just the socialising,” she said.
“When I was roustabouting it was quite isolating, same people, same stuff. Now I get to see people and interact with people, serve good coffee, good food, really just bring something else to the town.”
The move to the Freemasons Hotel is not necessarily the final destination for Katie’s Kafe.
Ms Neil has her sights set on a building across from the service station, where she hopes to eventually establish the standalone café she has long dreamed of.
The move has taken longer than anticipated, but Ms Neil said she remained hopeful she could eventually reach a point where the business could operate at both locations.
“Hopefully I can get it to a point where it sort of runs itself,” she said.
“And then I’d be able to manage the two.”
Having grown up in Molong, Ms Neil said the town remained home despite having moved away and returned several times over the years.
“Molong’s home,” she said.
With Katie’s Kafe continuing to evolve, Ms Neil said she was grateful for the support the business had received from the community.
“Everyone just makes a stressful situation easier,” she said.
“I’m grateful for all the support that we’ve had.”