A MOTHER and daughter are putting their heart and soul into a Walla cafe to cope with unimaginable loss.
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Janet Lauritzen and Dena O’Loughlin started DJ’s Fine Fast Food in April after Dena lost her husband to suicide last year.
A mum-of-two and hairdresser, Dena had been visiting family frequently at Walla from her Brisbane home before moving back permanently.
Janet said they had thrown themselves into the business before life got on top of them.
Having moved to Walla in the mid-1970s, Janet said a cancer diagnosis in 2010 made her reassess her own priorities.
“I made a bucket list and within five years I’ve ran a caravan park, worked at the Great Aussie Holiday Park and the Holbrook vets,” she said.
“The only thing I hadn’t done that I really wanted to do was run a cafe.
“Dena and I have always got along well; we bounce off each other.
“I only left the vet’s job because I wanted to see a smile on my daughter’s face again.”
Having lived in Queensland for 15 years, Dena said she’d always had an interest in the food industry.
She said she had a history of wheat and dairy intolerances.
“I know what it feels like to walk into a cafe and not be catered for,” she said.
“We are catering for all types of food intolerances at DJ’s.”
Since April Janet and Dena have put their own stamp on the cafe, which was in the historic Walla Emporium building.
They renovated the service area and added a dining room separated by a custom-made barn door.
They will offer pizza to the public for the first time at Walla during their grand opening on August 31.
A family affair, Janet’s husband of 38 years Matthew cooks at the cafe on Friday nights while Dena’s children Montana, 14, and Connor, 12, have also helped out. They have two other staff.
Janet said specialties included a signature steak sandwich and tradie’s toasties with pizza coming on line at the end of the month for Saturday nights.
“I do all of the baking and Dena does the lasagne, the gluten-free recipes and the coffee,” Janet said.
“We’re happy to make this business together and we want to put Walla on the map.”
Dena said while she missed city life she would never have stayed on with her children.
She said the business had gone better than expected.
“Being here has really kept my mind busy,” she said.
The grand opening at DJ’s Fine Fast Food, 41a Commercial Street, on August 31 will run from 3.30pm to 6pm.
There will be live music.
DJ’s Fine Fast Food opens Monday to Thursday, 7.30am-4pm, Friday, 7.30am-7pm, and Saturday, 8.30am-11.30am and 5pm-8pm for pizza.