After a ten-month hiatus, Temptations Cafe has reopened at 18 Wellington Street, in the town of St George.

Juilette Hoerrmann ran the eatery for 17 years on York Street. She retired in 2019, and her daughter, Julie Dill, took over.

“Just before she retired we talked about what would be next for Temptations,” Ms Dill said. “We were thinking what should we do to take us over the top?”

In the old location, they got a lot of foot traffic from locals and visitors, but there was no stove or oven which hampered growth.

“To put in a stove, we would have had to go up through the building, and that was difficult since we had St Peter’s church right next to us and the graveyard behind us,” Ms Dill said.

They decided to relocate.

“Linda Hatt became our operations manager,” Ms Dill said. “She has been very supportive, and has helped us move to the next level. She has been working through the renovations with us and creating a menu. She has been by my side through it all.”

They left York Street in December and moved into what was previously a hair salon.

“The biggest thing was the renovations piece,” Ms Dill said. “We had to get everyone on the same page and committing to a deadline. It was quite challenging and a little bit frustrating.“

They tackled the plumbing and electricity in the building.

“We put a hoodie in over the stove,” she said. “We had to add a new bathroom and then there was the painting and aesthetics.”

The new cooking appliances meant they could expand their breakfast menu. They still sell their popular breakfast bagels, but they are now also making pancakes and omelettes.

“We have added different salads and new sandwiches that are named after different places in St George’s,” Ms Dill said.

They have also upgraded their soups, with lasagne soup as one of the new offerings.

“We want to appeal to existing customers, but bring in some new ones, as well,” Ms Dill said.

They opened last Monday at the entrance to Penno’s Wharf.

“We opened at 11am so we only got the lunch run,” Ms Dill said. “But we did a full day on Tuesday and things were busy.”

The new spot means they could miss some of the foot traffic they once had.

“But this was an opportunity to attract a different kind of clientele,” Ms Dill said. “The minute you come around the corner you will see Temptations.”

There is a parking lot behind the café, and indoor and outdoor seating.

“We never had outdoor seating in our old space,” Ms Dill said.

The restaurant business is in her blood. Her father, George Hoerrmann, ran the old Carriage House Restaurant in St George, years ago. He died in 2009.

“I am carrying on in honour of my mom,” Ms Dill said.

They currently have four staff members and are looking for another cook.

“We also need another person who would be a floater,” Ms Dill said.

Temptations Cafe is not Ms Dill’s only entrepreneurial challenge. She also runs the Baby Bean coffee truck in St George’s.