‘It began with a dream and a love for the sweet things in life’, says Alison Campbell, founder of Love Byron Bay Crêperie & Chocolate Boutique.
Alison, looking back on the challenges, achievements and the many contributors over the decade that made Love Byron what it is today, says, ‘The journey began in December 2014 when our doors to a dream opened for the very first time with equal measure of trepidation and excitement and began with a cacao ceremony to acknowledge and invite the cocoa gods into our little boutique. Over a decade I’ve been privileged to witness thousands of loyal locals and visitors return to Love, hundreds of team members trained in the art of crepe making and retailing, and each and everyone of us who participated and contributed to something unique in this town we love.’
Like any small business owner, Alison has weathered floods, staff shortages, cost increases and survived the covid lockdowns; she recalls just prior the biggest chocolate event of the year, Easter 2020, covid arrived. With the boutique stocked high with Easter eggs and rabbits, Alison pivoted online and turned into the Easter Bunny herself – delivering Easter to the Shire with the help of aligned businesses, local media and her GPS.
‘Love Byron Bay has been both a challenge and a joy. Our boutique has brought pleasure to chocoholics and dessert champions. Delighting in the all-over body pleasure cacao delivers, investing in their own self-confessed addiction, our customers expanded their taste vocabulary by frequenting our boutique, our tasting events and our online shop, while lovers of French crepes have been drawn to enjoy fresh crepes being flipped and hot chocolates poured. Our little boutique is where excited, smiling eyes have met for the first time and new love affairs ignited.’
2024 marks the tenth and final year of trading for Love Byron Bay at its Lawson St address, owing to its tenancy being forcibly terminated and a new tenant offered the space. Love Byron Bay will close its doors in its current location at the end of January. Says Alison, ‘We all must face life’s endings but one thing I do know is every ending brings with it a new beginning. As we get ready to close our doors I’d like to invite everyone to sample our unique taste of Love one last time. And I would like to thank all those who have supported the journey of my little chocolate boutique and crêperie that was Byron’s number one dessert destination.’
More info: love-byronbay.com
