Sweet Bones at Scullin Shops will remain open. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
After 13 years of running Sweet Bones Cafe in Braddon, Emily and Russ Brindley have seen a lot of change. Their kids have grown up in the space, they’ve watched customers grow into adulthood and they’ve witnessed the transformation of Lonsdale Street from car yards to coffee shops.
Now, they’ve decided to close the doors on the Braddon shop, but while it’s the end of an era, it’s not the end of Sweet Bones: there’s plenty on the horizon at their Scullin location.
Speaking with Region, Emily said the decision to close was influenced by their desire for a better work-life balance:
“It’s been a challenge to have the two cafes open at the same time. Russ and I couldn’t be everywhere: as parents, as bosses, as baristas and as bakers,” she said.
“The kids are only small for so long and it was really affecting our priorities. We still love Braddon, and it’s been a hard decision to make, but from a financial aspect, it made sense to close Braddon and focus on Scullin.”
Russ and Emily Brindley at the launch of their Sweet Bones Cookbook at their Braddon cafe in 2018. Photo: Sweet Bones.
Emily and Russ opened their second location in Scullin in 2022. As locals of the suburb, they’d been involved with the Scullin Community Group and were keen to help reinvigorate neglected local shops. Since then, Scullin has also welcomed Muku Ramen Bar and an African grocery store, and the shops are once again a hub for the local community.
The couple has a lot of shared memories from their 13 years in Braddon, and they’ve enjoyed hearing stories from customers, too.
“Our son Beau’s first words were spoken sitting in the wooden high chair in Braddon! And so many events have happened there for other people: it’s not just about our family, it’s touched a lot of people’s lives.”
“We’ve heard from people saying, ‘We had our first date at Sweet Bones’, or ‘I met my partner there’, so it’s brought up a lot of nostalgia.”
And, of course, Braddon has changed a lot, too: there are many more cafes now, and there are plenty of options for vegans. Emily remembers the days when vegan options at other cafes were few and far between, so she’s pleased to see there are choices pretty much anywhere you go now.
The staff at their cafes have also been an important part of their community in Canberra. Originally hailing from the US, Emily said that forming long-term friendships with staff members filled the gap left by being so far away from family.
Emily and Russ decided not to reopen Braddon after the holiday break, but they encourage people to visit them at Scullin if they’re feeling nostalgic! They’re also running Friday and Saturday night dinners in February (with the potential to extend them if there’s enough interest). It’s an opportunity for their talented Braddon chefs to flex their creative muscles and celebrate the best of summer produce with dishes like a beetroot carpaccio salad.
To relive the memories and get a glimpse behind the scenes, Emily has put together a zine with 10 recipes from across the years and tributes from former staff. It’s available from the Sweet Bones website or at their Scullin location.
Sweet Bones is located at Shop 3, 3 Scullin Place, Scullin. They are open from 7 am to 2 pm on weekdays and from 8 am to 2 pm on weekends. They are open for dinner from 5 to 8.30 pm (last orders at 8) on Friday and Saturday nights throughout February. Follow Sweet Bones on Instagram, or contact them for catering.
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