Cameron Thomas, proprietor of Central Perk café, has a love and passion for food. He also has an interesting and varied past. Chef by trade Cameron has been in hospitality most of his life and was 26 when he opened his first café in Mulgoa in Western Sydney. For some 10 years he successfully operated the café, and a ‘before and after school’ care centre, plus a wedding venue. All businesses did well.

Always drawn towards working in a stimulating workplace, and at age 39, Cameron decided on a career change and joined the Police force. “Being a Policeman was an invaluable life experience,” he said, “It’s definitely NOT a ‘9 to 5’ existence.”

He recalls, “After eight months training in the Police Academy, as a 40-year-old thrown in with a bunch of 25-year-olds, I was looking forward to my first posting.”

Cameron was stationed in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, and spent six years in the force.

After frequent holidays to the South Coast, Cameron grew to love the area. In 2017 he bought property in Shell Cove, and in 2020 he moved in. Cameron wanted a complete life change, so he bought a café at 84 Terralong St, Kiama, which he renovated, and renamed ‘Central Perk’ – his own concept. The focus was, and will always be, on great food and good friendly service. He can’t help it – Cameron is a total ‘foodie’ and wants to promote local produce and goods.

“It was a lot of hard work to recover from the pandemic effects on the hospitality industry”. Cameron describes that period “like being hit by a truck”. He felt that the whole concept of hospitality had gone by the wayside over that period, so he redoubled his efforts to create an outstanding café. “The problem with many hospitality venues is the lack of interaction with the customers. Perhaps staff are too disengaged?” he wonders.

Cameron selected the right team with the right attitude toward hospitality and gave them the best training. He is proud of his team and what they have achieved together. Central Perk was selected out of well over 100 café nominations to become one of the 17 finalists for ‘Outstanding Café’ in the Precedent Local Business Awards 2023. Central Perk was one of only three selected from Kiama!

The awards are held on 13 September at The Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow. Before then the finalist businesses are visited by an incognito judge who acts as a customer and evaluates the products and service. Central Perk should do well, especially since the whole mantra of the business is to provide good service, good food and good value. Cameron recognises that “People come here to enjoy the experience.”

Whether Central Perk wins the Local Business Awards or not doesn’t really matter to Cameron. The recognition of becoming a finalist was already a huge reward and has let him know that he’s on the right track with the café. “Winning,” he says, “would just be icing on the cake!”

Mural artist: Benjamin Ross @BENROSS_ART