Situated in the old Wellington Motorcycles building, Gear Street Union is a fresh new hot spot with something for everyone, including quality espresso, a huge wine and beer selection and dishes designed to keep customers coming back for more.
Having opened in early 2023, Coffee Program Manager of parent company Kāpura Amber Ivamy says the opening went “100 times better than expected”.
“We had a few soft openings that were pushed back due to COVID-related delays, but when we finally opened the venue, we were blown out of the water by the foot traffic. There’s been a fantastic response from the local community,” Amber says.
“Gear Street Union is all about dishing up banging brunches, pouring delicious coffee, and most importantly, creating an awesome atmosphere that everyone in Petone wants to be a part of.”
With multiple dynamic spaces operating six – soon to be seven – days a week, Gear Street Union embodies an old-school American diner with a modern twist. Being employed specifically for Kāpura to launch its coffee program, Amber says the site also features a micro-roastery, designed for customer interaction and education.
“What I’m aiming to do in this role is make coffee more approachable to the general public. You don’t need to know everything about coffee to be interested in it, so I’m glad people can see the roastery as soon as they walk in,” she says.
Gear Street Union roasts its coffee fresh onsite, and also uses Māori coffee brand Āio Kāwhe, which translates to “peace and tranquillity” with ties to mindfulness and the creation of Te Ao Māori, the Māori universe.
“The coffee brand represents the community we’re based in and pays homage to our Wairua and Kohtahitanga – our spiritual wellbeing, belonging and ‘oneness’. The name itself ‘Āio’ was chosen to represent those moments when you drink your first coffee in the morning, the time you take for yourself when you’re slowly waking up and preparing to face the day,” Amber says.
Gear Street Union also features an extensive food offering, including classic brunch and lunch options.
“We’ve got your typical customer favourites like our avocado smash and eggs on toast, while also offering new and exciting items, like our Fried Chicken Hero, a roast chicken meal in a sandwich, and our Wagyu Chucky Cheese Burger, which is a total crowd pleaser,” Amber says.
Despite opening mere months ago, Amber says the venue already has regulars visiting every day.
“I love watching the young staff flourish in their roles. We conducted a week’s worth of training prior to opening, and they’ve just hit the ground running, which is awesome to see. They provide the heart and soul to the community connection we are trying to create,” she says.
Gear Street Union
18 Gear Street, Petone, New Zealand, 5012
Open Tuesday to Friday 8am until late, weekends 9am until late
+64 (03) 282 1733
This article appears in the April 2023 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
