The transformation of Doolies, an Australian café nestled within the bustling Market City Shopping Centre in Haymarket, stands as an exemplary commercial hospitality fitout by Total Fitouts North Sydney. As a business operating directly above the iconic Paddy’s Markets in the heart of Chinatown, Doolies benefits from a prime location that offers constant foot traffic and vibrant energy. This high-traffic area, however, also presented unique logistical and design challenges, as Total Fitouts shopfit experts worked to transform what was previously a grab-and-go style kiosk into a fully functional, dine-in café.
Location: Market City Shopping Centre, Haymarket
Doolies is strategically located within Market City Shopping Centre, a dynamic retail hub that sees substantial foot traffic daily. Located right at the front of the centre, directly above Paddy’s Markets, Doolies is ideally situated to attract a diverse clientele, including both locals and tourists. As a result, the fitout was commercially designed to align with the lively character of the area, creating a space that could accommodate the fast-paced environment while providing a comfortable, inviting space for patrons to dine in. Given the popularity of the location, a large portion of the foot traffic occurs within the food court area, requiring Doolies’ commercial design to capture attention and welcome patrons in a visually appealing, functional, and efficient layout.
Read more: DooliesBusiness Concept: From Grab-and-Go to Dine-In Café
Doolies has established itself as an Australian café that has now evolved from its original grab-and-go concept to include a dine-in experience. This transformation of the commercial hospitality fitout called for a major upgrade, as the café needed to not only expand its kitchen facilities but also incorporate additional seating and serving areas to meet the demands of a sit-down café in a highly populated food court setting. Total Fitouts North Sydney envisioned a modernised, aesthetically pleasing, and spacious environment that would cater to both quick service and leisurely dining.
Style, Mood, and Finishes
The aesthetic concept of Doolies centers around a bright, Australian-inspired theme that integrates natural materials to create a fresh, welcoming atmosphere. The commercial design leverages stone and timber finishes, embodying the earthy, laid-back vibe associated with Australian cafes while offering durability and a sense of warmth to the space. The choice of finishes within the commercial hospitality fitout aligns well with the open food court environment, as stone and timber evoke a clean and sophisticated feel that elevates the café above the typical kiosk experience. Light and airy tones dominate the colour palette, reflecting the café’s Australian roots and providing a soothing ambience that contrasts the bustling food court around it.
Project Scope: Expanding the Existing Kiosk to Add a Full Kitchen
The commercial fitout scope for Doolies involved the complete renovation and expansion of the existing kiosk, with a primary focus on adding a full kitchen within the confines of a relatively compact kiosk area. This required a careful approach to layout planning to ensure that the commercial design could accommodate all necessary kitchen equipment, storage, and food prep areas without overcrowding. The café’s transformation necessitated the integration of cooking, refrigeration, and food service areas, while also expanding space for customer interaction and seating. By upgrading the kiosk into a functional café with a complete inline cooking area, Doolies was able to fully leverage the space to support a dine-in model without compromising operational efficiency.
Commercial Design Features: Creating a Functional Inline Cooking Area in a Compact Kiosk
One of the most impressive aspects of the Doolies commercial hospitality fitout is the successful integration of a full cooking line within the limited space of a kiosk. Harry and the Total Fitouts North Sydney team overcame this spatial challenge by designing a streamlined and efficient layout that allows staff to prepare meals in real-time, a rare achievement for a food court setting. Frameless glass displays were installed atop polished stone benchtops, allowing customers to view fresh food and beverages while preserving the café’s refined aesthetic. The frameless glass showcases not only add a sleek, modern touch but also serve as functional displays that help to highlight the café’s offerings.
New, high-quality refrigeration units and stainless-steel surfaces from CWS Group were carefully selected for durability and hygiene, while Capco Electrical and JP Andrews Plumbing provided vital electrical and plumbing installations to meet the functional needs of the café. The exhaust systems were also meticulously planned and installed to ensure compliance with the shopping centre’s safety regulations, despite challenging structural limitations in the space.
Suppliers and Commercial Designers
The project relied on a combination of trusted suppliers and partners to bring the Doolies commercial hospitality fitout to life. Total Fitouts worked closely with CWS Group to provide the refrigeration and stainless-steel equipment essential for a fully operational kitchen within a kiosk setting. Capco Electrical handled the electrical installations, ensuring compliance with safety standards while maintaining efficiency in the confined space. JP Andrews Plumbing contributed to plumbing requirements, while RAM Air supported the ventilation needs critical to maintaining a clean and safe cooking environment within the food court.
This collaboration with reputable suppliers and contractors facilitated the seamless integration of all necessary infrastructure, allowing Total Fitouts North Sydney to meet the specific demands of a dine-in café setup in a heavily frequented commercial environment.
Challenges Encountered During the Project
The renovation of Doolies was marked by a series of significant challenges, largely due to the high-traffic location, spatial limitations, and pre-existing conditions of the kiosk. Firstly, the lack of sufficient space around the kiosk created difficulties in managing renovation works without obstructing the flow of the food court, which remained open throughout the construction process. The Total Fitouts North Sydney team had to navigate strict working hours, restricted to nighttime shifts, to minimise disruption during peak business hours.
Structural issues also surfaced during the commercial hospitality fitout, with core holes presenting complications that required extensive coordination with engineers to address. Much of the existing kiosk had deteriorated, with areas rotting and in need of replacement, which added complexity to the scope of work. To complicate matters further, the previous setup of Doolies had non-compliant electrical and plumbing installations, which had to be rectified before new work could proceed.
All these obstacles required careful planning, adherence to strict timelines, and quick problem-solving to keep the project on track.
The Final Result: A Café that Captures Australian Warmth and Charm
The completed commercial hospitality fitout for Doolies café is a testament to the power of merging a client’s vision with thoughtful commercial design and expert craftsmanship. This transformed space goes beyond functionality, introducing a fresh, modern atmosphere that perfectly balances practicality with Australian-inspired aesthetics. The warm stone and timber finishes, frameless glass displays, and well-integrated kitchen design all contribute to a space that feels both inviting and sophisticated—an ideal setting for patrons seeking a calm escape within a bustling shopping centre.
“The final result is a café that’s not only functional but also visually inviting,” said the owner for Doolies. “Our customers have responded enthusiastically, and it’s created a new level of engagement within the food court.”
Looking for a Commercial Hospitality Fitout?
If you’re envisioning a commercial hospitality fitout that combines style, efficiency, and durability, Total Fitouts is here to help. Whether it’s a kiosk upgrade or a full-scale hospitality transformation, our team has the experience and dedication to deliver results that exceed expectations.
Reach out today to start planning your commercial hospitality fitout with Total Fitouts.