Local Maylands café, Steam Haus, has renovated its shopfront with the help of a $3,000 Placemaking Grant from the City of Bayswater.
The grant allowed the café to install a new window display and introduce a coffee grind recycling station for composting, creating a fresh, sustainable space that draws in customers and improves the community’s connection to the café.
Mayor Filomena Piffaretti highlighted the City’s commitment to helping local businesses create lively, welcoming spaces that strengthen community ties and boost the local economy.
“Our Placemaking Grants Program is a key part of our Place Activation Plan. It empowers businesses to transform our town centres into thriving, dynamic hubs that encourage people to shop locally and enjoy the area,” said Mayor Piffaretti.
“These play an important role in boosting economic development and enhancing the unique character of our town centres.”
The Placemaking Grants Program offers up to $3,000 to help local businesses and community projects improve shopfronts or support initiatives that create vibrant town centres, with businesses covering half of the project costs.
Steam Haus is one of 19 businesses that have benefited from the program, using the grant to update their shopfront and introduce a coffee grind recycling initiative. Steam Haus owner Stephanie Crowe who took over the business just over a year ago, shared how the grant has made a noticeable impact.
“Before the renovation, there was a large honeycomb wall display that made it hard to see into the café from the street. Now, it’s much easier for people to see if there’s seating available, and we’ve made the back seating area more visible from the entrance,” said Stephanie.
“We also started recycling our used coffee grounds. After using the beans, we put the grounds back into the coffee bags which we then place in a wheelbarrow for customers to take and use on their garden beds or even as body scrubs.”
The City's Placemaking Grants Program continues to support local businesses like Steam Haus, helping enhance the City’s town centres. For more information on available grants, visit www.bayswater.wa.gov.au/grants.
Pictured: Steam Haus owner Stephanie Crowe showcasing the new window display.