An espresso bar owner is looking for "talented baristas" so he can go ahead with opening at Dubbo.
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Jeremy Norris reports he started advertising positions about two months ago but the roles remain open.
On Thursday he continued putting the finishing touches to the newly-fitted out Jimmy Barnet Espresso Bar, located within The Exchange Clock Tower in Macquarie Street, but one key element was missing.
The businessman encouraged baristas to apply, so the venture planned to operate seven days a week could serve its first coffees.
"We started advertising for staff probably two months ago, and obviously it's a trying time with COVID and what's been happening," he said.
"So staffing has been an issue.
"We're hoping we can find some talented baristas to come and join the team, and we're looking for probably two or three full-time positions, and a couple of casuals.
"We're hoping to open Jimmy's in the next couple of weeks, and it's going to be a seven-day-a-week operation from 7am to 4pm, so I don't want to open until I've got all those positions filled."
Mr Norris, who owns a number of cafes in Orange, encouraged people with passion to apply.
"People with hospitality [skills], people who like being happy, smiley, customer-service focused," he said.
"We can train people, that's no problem at all, but we do really need a couple of key gun coffee makers to lead the charge."
We can train people, that's no problem at all, but we do really need a couple of key gun coffee makers to lead the charge.
- Espresso bar owner Jeremy Norris
The businessman said expanding to Dubbo had always been in the back of his mind.
Then about 18 months ago Mr Norris learnt of The Exchange Clock Tower and owner Jillian Kilby's restoration of the heritage property from a mutual friend.
"We made a little trip over and met Jillian and saw what they were doing, very much in the construction phase at that time, half-way through the reno," he said.
"We had a bit of a tour, went and sat up near the bells at the top of the clock tower and had a bit of a chat.
"I just saw what I thought was a wonderful opportunity to bring what I believe is a great coffee, Allpress, which we've been using for nine years, to Dubbo...
"I always kind of knew we'd find a space, and it just took us a while to find one - but I think the space found us."