Community
8 June, 2022
This Is A Great Why Fnq Story…
Kirsty McAvoy, co-owner of the Captain & Co Espresso in Port Douglas recalls the adventures that led her and partner Paul to own the beautiful café that is a staple in the community.
“Paul came from Lisburn, Ireland 10 years ago, I came from Glasgow, Scotland seven years ago. We both came to Australia with the intention of back-packing only for a year or two, but neither could tear away from Port Douglas when we found it.It is heaven on earth!
We met in Port Douglas on my second day of being there, but only became a couple the next year. We had a big adventure travelling down the coast together in a camper and we tried Melbourne for a few years, but ultimately, we missed Port Douglas and that feeling of home away from home.
Since Paul was sponsored by a previous employer he then became my sponsor, and now we both plan to become citizens. Captain & Co Espresso came about as a serendipitous accident for us.
I was working at Quicksilver when Mark Pollard opened the shop, and I got a part time job there. I absolutely loved it and felt so excited working. It was fun, I got to meet so many people and enjoy the best coffee.
I often commented to Paul that I wished we had thought of the idea before Mark.
Paul and I would chat for hours about our ideas and what we would do if it were ours. Half-jokingly, Paul asked Mark for first refusal if he ever decided to sell the shop.
Less than three months after that, Mark offered us our dream; we will forever be grateful to him for the opportunity, and we hope we have done justice to what he started.
We feel very blessed and the local support we receive is absolutely insane, it has gotten us through some really tough times, and we will never forget it.
On any given day, you will see the biggest mix at the shop, tradies, cleaners, mums and bubs, local business owners, emergency services, hospitality staff and of course our tourists too.
We are a one-size-fits-all type of place, everybody is welcome! We have no plans to extend or expand, as we’re not here to take over, just happy to belong! We want to be happy, not rich!.”
