Another eatery has opened in the CBD. Juno, on Woodlark Street, is already carving out its space in the Lismore food scene.

Owner-operator Jazz Bellmaine and her partner Reilly jumped at the chance to take over the space from Village People, where Jazz previously worked, and create their dream.

“Starting from scratch is a such a hard thing, but when this space became available, already set up, it was too good an opportunity not to take.”

Jazz grew up at The Channon and then lived in Lismore. After working in hospitality since she was 14, and working in coffee shops in Melbourne and England, 26-year-old Jazz was ready to take the plunge into her own cafe.

“It (the love of hospitality) has always run in my family I guess. My mum and grandma are really good cooks and love cooking and baking. So it's been something that's been on my mind for ever really.”

The fit out of the cafe has been well thought through and constructed in a flood-aware manner, with everything easily removed, and Jazz and Reilly have a strong flood plan in place. They are very positive about entering a business in the CBD, and confident in managing any potential threats of flooding.

Juno’s coffee (Moonshine Coffee, roasted in Billinudgel) is great, and the cabinet is full of grab-and-go items such as toasties, salads and cakes - perfect if you’re looking for a lunch break feed. Jazz says that they are hoping to expand into hot foods and cooked breakfasts sometime in the near future. 

All baked goods are made with love by Jazz, some from family recipes. There are plenty of dietary options, with many cakes gluten-free, and a house-made gluten-free focaccia that any sandwich can be made on.

Juno is open 6.30am until two Monday to Friday, and there are plans to open on Saturdays in the coming weeks as staffing increases. As well as offering easy take-away, Juno has a cosy space inside for eating in, and chairs and sunny yellow umbrellas outside. Its bright colours and fun branding make it a little splash of joy on Woodlark Street.

The community support for Juno has already shown to be strong and Jazz and Reilly are excited about the future of the business.