Local business success story to helm new State Library Victoria cafe

Almond Milk Co. were today announced as the operators of State Library Victoria’s new cafe, Guild, set to open next month as part of the Library’s $88.1 million redevelopment.

Guild opens on Friday 21 September inside the Library’s new Russell Street Welcome Zone, a vibrant new collaborative space that will also be the new home of an expanded Readings bookshop.

From humble beginnings in founder and managing director Cameron Earl’s kitchen in 2013, Almond Milk Co. has become Melbourne’s largest manufacturer and distributor of fresh almond milk, stocking more than 180 cafes, restaurants, bakeries and catering businesses across Melbourne.

In 2016 Almond Milk Co. opened its first cafe, a unique in-store experience at Country Road, Brighton and following its success, opened a second cafe in 2017 inside lifestyle boutique Husk, Toorak.

State Library Victoria CEO Kate Torney said the Library was proud to work with and support local entrepreneurs.

‘Almond Milk Co., as operators of Guild, along with Readings bookshop, will help create a vibrant and inviting space within the Russell Street Welcome Zone when it opens next month, breathing new life into an historic part of the city,’ Ms Torney said.

‘It marks an exciting milestone in our Vision 2020 redevelopment, with the opening of two new Library entrances, beautiful new reading rooms and a stunning new event space supported by a production kitchen.’

Mr Earl said he and fellow managing director, Samuel Walters, were thrilled to open Almond Milk Co.’s first CBD location in one of the city’s most beautiful and iconic buildings.

‘As proud Melburnians with a love of the historic State Library, we are honoured to open our flagship cafe in the new Russell Street Welcome Zone and be a part of the Library’s next chapter,’ Mr Earl said.

Guild will offer a seasonal menu of salads, sandwiches, coffee by Sensory Lab, and plain and flavoured almond milk by Almond Milk Co. As well as espresso coffee, coffee day passes will be available, providing an all-day supply of filter coffee to Library visitors using the new space to meet, work, collaborate and study.

The Russell Street entrance and a new accessible entrance on La Trobe Street officially open to the public at 10am on Friday 21 September, providing access to the Library’s new spaces and services.

The two entrances will be the main entry points when the Swanston Street entrance closes temporarily for the second phase of the Library’s $88.1 million Vision 2020 redevelopment project, due to be completed in spring 2019.

For more information about Vision 2020 visit vision2020.slv.vic.gov.au