State Library Victoria has announced Almond Milk Co as the operators of a new café called Guild, set to open as part of the library’s $88.1 million redevelopment.
“As proud Melburnians with a love of the historic State Library, we are honoured to open our flagship café in the new Russell Street Welcome Zone and be a part of the library’s next chapter,” says Cameron Earl, Founder and Managing Director of Almond Milk Co.
State Library Victoria CEO Kate Torney says the café marks a milestone in the Vision 2020 redevelopment, with the opening of two new library entrances, new reading rooms and a new event space supported by a production kitchen.
“Guild, along with Readings bookshop, will help create a vibrant and inviting space within the Russell Street Welcome Zone when it opens next month, breathing new life into an historic part of the city,” she says.
Guild will offer a seasonal menu of salads, sandwiches, coffee by Sensory Lab, and plain and flavoured almond milk.
As well as espresso coffee, coffee day passes will be available, providing an all-day supply of filter coffee to library visitors using the new space to meet, work, collaborate and study.
Guild and the Russell Street entrance officially open to the public at 21 September, as well as a new accessible entrance on La Trobe Street.
The two entrances will be the main entry points when the Swanston Street entrance closes temporarily for the second phase of the library’s redevelopment project, due to be completed in spring 2019.