Our Story
From little things, big things grow
After inheriting a run down business in the late 1990’s, the Makool family set out to reshape & improve the business through sheer hard work & a constant commitment to service, quality & value. Three generations of Makools have worked in the business, from our parents George and Saide, down to little nieces & nephews (they’re actually not that little at 6’2” and 6’4” ). This family has a commitment to the business – but most importantly to each other – shows in the warmth of service that we offer our customers and in the quality and consistency of the food we provide our customers.
So, what actually is Oasis Bakery?
Well first of all, it’s a Middle Eastern bakery where we bake a large selection of fresh pastries (Toppings include: Haloumi cheese, oregano, spinach & cheese etc...) Secondly we operate a cafe, where the style du jour is again Middle Eastern and more specifically, Lebanese. Thirdly, we operate an intensely well appointed grocery store, with the finest staple ingredients from all over the world - you will surely find everything you need to create your next culinary conquest.
The future
2010 marked a milestone for us. After years of struggling to cope with increasing demand and insufficient checkouts, seating and preparation area; struggling not to melt during the torrid summer months from a lack of air-conditioning and insulation; struggling to make over 3,000 different grocery items fit into a space that was designed to display a third of that quantity, we opened the first stage of a major redevelopment and expansion. This is by far the biggest change to have taken place at Oasis Bakery in our history and it is a change that has been accepted with warm regard by our customers and embraced fully by our staff and family. The change in the café space alone has meant that within three months of opening the new store, we were included in The Age’s Top 10 Cheap Eats 2010.^
The best is yet to come though, as the completion of stage two will mean a further increase in the range of products on offer – from a more varied range of spices, herbs, nuts, pulses, beans and grains; a greater selection of ethnically diverse products (eg Middle Eastern, Russian, Asian, Italian, Israeli, African and South American and of course Australian); to entire sections devoted to gluten-free, organic and child friendly foods; as well as a complete range of fresh produce, with an emphasis on seasonal and locally sourced items; and not to mention a huge increase in the range of ready to eat meals and frozen meals that we’ll be freshly preparing; with the pièce de résistance being a nine meter long sweets and coffee servery that will feature a myriad selection of delectable sweets and invigorating coffee.
Just because we’ve gotten bigger doesn’t mean we’re going to drop the ball on customer service and quality. It doesn’t mean we’re going to stop being innovative. It doesn’t mean we’re going to stop caring about what our customers think and want. Why? Because this is our passion and even more than that, it’s our life.
^The Age Melbourne Magazine April 2010