(Image: T&A)
A couple have turned a homemade passion into a thriving business after opening their first cafe.
Café Acai, located on Thornton Road, is the first hospitality venture for Qasim and Narjis Jalil, who previously worked in corporate careers before deciding to build a business around their growing family.
The café specialises in acai bowls, speciality coffees and lighter food options aimed at customers looking for an alternative to traditional takeaway food.
Mr Jalil said: "For us, it was about bringing something a little different to this area.
"Throughout the years, we've always felt there was a gap for alternative food compared to the fast-food options you get everywhere."
He added: "We wanted to offer something fresh, flavourful, drinks and alternative foods in a nice, relaxed setting."
Inside Café Acai, the new family-run café in Thornton. (Image: T&A)
Why Thornton?
Mr Jalil said Thornton was the perfect location because of its strong sense of community.
He said: "Thornton felt like the right place for us to bring that idea to life. We've got the viaduct, beautiful walking trails and a semi-rural setting."
Mr Jalil added: "Whether people are looking for a coffee, matcha, breakfast, lunch, an acai bowl or something more refreshing, we're hoping it becomes part of their everyday routine."
The café features a bespoke counter serving acai bowls, coffee and matcha drinks. (Image: T&A)
From homemade recipes to a high street business
While Café Acai may be new to Thornton's high street, the business has been years in the making.
Mrs Jalil has been making acai bowls at home for more than a decade, long before the idea of opening a café became a reality.
He said: "We'd often talk about how there was a gap for real alternative food...eventually we just stopped talking about it and took the leap."
Before opening the café, the business spent around 18 months operating through delivery platforms, allowing the couple to develop their menu and build a customer base.
Everything on the menu has been created in-house.
Café Acai was launched to bring healthier food and drink options to Thornton. (Image: T&A)
Renovations, newborns and four children
However, turning the premises into Café Acai proved no easy task.
The couple, who have four children, renovated the site while continuing to run their existing delivery business and balancing family life.
Mr Jalil said: "It's been a real journey and probably a lot more challenging than we initially anticipated.
Months of renovation work transformed the space into Café Acai's modern interior. (Image: T&A)
"We started renovating the premises earlier this year and turning the space into what we envisioned has taken a lot of planning, patience and hard work."
He added: "There's been delays, practical challenges and plenty of times where we went back to the drawing board."
The challenge became even greater when the couple welcomed a new baby during the renovation process.
He said: "My wife gave birth a few months back, which was right in the middle of the renovation."