Bringing something fresh to the corner of Union and Laman Street
Photography courtesy of Henry from Newy Digital
There’s a fresh energy brewing at the iconic corner cafe in Cooks Hill. As of April 1, 2025, Corner House Cafe officially entered a new era under the experienced stewardship of local hospitality duo Meckenzie and Joshua.
The couple, who first moved to Newcastle from the Tweed Coast in 2017 to study, have been quietly building a small coffee empire across the city.
“We first made the move to Newcastle in 2018 to study. Whilst both at uni, I got a job working at The Great Northern Hotel and Meckenzie got a job at 23Hundred Espresso.
“We started working more than we did studying, and in 2021 we were lucky enough to have the original owner of 23Hundred offer us to buy the cafe. From there, we sort of got on a bit of a roll and we’re loving what we’re doing,” Josh said.
Following the purchase of 23Hundred in 2021, the couple went on to take over Akuna in Merewether and then the coffee spot at Rethink Your Workspace building on Dick Street in Newcastle West.
Come 2023, the duo opened their first cafe that was built from the ground up – Paper Run Espresso.
This year, alongside navigating their biggest adventure yet – becoming parents to baby Milana – they made the call to sell Akuna and take on Corner House Cafe.
“Akuna is a fantastic cafe, but the weekends were intense. We wanted something that brought us closer to our original model – quick-service coffee shops, without full kitchens – and allowing us to have more time together as a family.”
Corner House, with its charming streetside location and loyal following, had always been on the couple’s radar.
“We’ve admired it from afar for a while. We loved the vibe of the place and the offering was very similar to what we had already been doing at the other shops.”
While the ownership has changed hands, regulars will be pleased to know that very little else has.
“That’s the beauty of buying something with a strong reputation – we’re not here to reinvent it, just build on what’s already working.”
The coffee is now brewed with the couple’s own 23Hundred Espresso signature roast, and the food menu still offers a well-rounded lineup of light breakfast and brunch classics.
Think eggs on toast, smashed avo and smoked salmon, plus a rotation of deli-style toasties, wraps, and focaccias for lunch. Plus, for those with a sweet tooth, you’ll find fresh pastries daily from Snows Patisserie and a selection of raw treats from Raw Nectar.
Corner House has also recently become a stockist for what might just be the best matcha in Newcastle – Raw Nutrition by Soph.
“We’ve worked with them since day one to bring top-shelf ceremonial matcha to Newcastle. We’re currently stocking a range of their products and experimenting on a brand new product with them.”
The couple has hinted at more exciting things on the horizon – including a potential new venue near their hometown of Kingscliff. But, in the meantime they’re focused on settling into Corner House and have already started opening on Saturdays with plans to go seven days soon.
