Cache rises: Wagga business' journey from the ashes

Wagga’s popular eatery will rise from the ashes this week, with a new chocolateria and cafe-restaurant variety store to take up shop, following a heartbreaking fire earlier this year.

Owner Anthony Chambeyron said he and his wife, Renee were beyond excited to showcase big changes, innovation and brand new ideas. 

Customers, staff, guests and on-lookers had pooled into Baylis Street on January 18, watching helpless as smoke filled the air and flames claimed the 12-year-old venue. 

While fortunately no one was injured, the gut-wrenching incident caused more than $300,000 worth of damage. 

But the restaurant refused to lose its spark in the wake of disaster and will officially re-open its doors on Wednesday. 

It comes ahead of the grand opening of the couple’s Charlie's Chocolatier and Pattisserie on Friday, November 3. 

“We’ve kept our chin up and soldiered through,” Mr Chambeyron said. “We’re still staying positive.” 

Mr Chambeyron said the pettissiere would be a “real destination point for Wagga” and “more than just another cafe”, with a new chocolatier on the floor. 

The pettissiere was six months young when the fire turned the old function room to ash.

Now almost completely refurbished, Mr Chambeyron said the calibre would be amazing. 

“We’ll be open later on Friday and Saturday evenings too,” he said. “That’s something new to Wagga.”

Mr Chambeyron said he’d be lying if he and Renee weren’t nervous about starting from scratch, but they were hopeful they could rebuild their brand and regain popularity across the city. 

Renee Chambeyron said Charlies looked like it was on steroids.

“We’re both very proud of how far we’ve come from since the fire,” Mrs Chambeyron said. 

“Its overwhelming ... it’s just amazing.”

She said it would take multiple visits for customers to discover everything new. 

With the loss of most of the store’s casual and some part-time staff, its re-opening has created about 60 jobs for the Wagga community. 

The patisserie will have a capacity of about 140 people, while the cafe-restaurant variety store will hold about 180 customers.