Popular Samford cafe Collies and Co announces permanent closure

A popular café in Samford that provided coffee and puppy cuddles has suddenly closed its doors.

Collies and Co. - a family-owned and run café in the Main Street of Samford Village - announced on their Instagram page they had ceased trading.

“It brings us great sadness to announce that Collies and Co. Café is now permanently closed,” the initial post read.

“From all of us at Collies – thank you for supporting us over the last three-and-a-half-years and for the memories we will all treasure forever.

“There will be a post to follow in regards to the process for refunds of bookings and gift cards.

“Please be patient and understanding. We are all hurting.

“Try to remember this has been very sudden. We’re talking days notice, not weeks or months.”

In a follow up Instagram story, Collies and Co. then went on to say the sale of the building and the discovery of several defects were a major factor in the closure.

They also announced they would not be relocating. 

"There is no possibility of relocating with this short notice, and having only just got the business to a point I can actually spend some time with my family, I am not prepared to loose (sic) that again to start from scratch in a new venue," the post said.

"And so this is where it ends, on a high note, with the best team we've ever had there.

"I will miss working with them every day and the fun we had together, and watching them grow into the amazing individuals they are today.

"I will miss the joy we were able to bring to our guests, and the difference we made to the puppies and dogs we socialised." 

Above: The photo Collies and Co. posted on their Instagram page.

For the love of dogs 

In an interview with Moreton Daily in June 2020, Collies and Co. Café owner and director Madeline Nixon explained how the café came to be.

Madeline said the idea was hatched when her family took on the former Black Sheep Caffé at Samford Village in September 2019.

“When we first began operating, I also had a litter of puppies at home that I missed dearly,” Madeline said at the time.

“I started to bring them with me, and they would hang out in the driveway area while I worked the day away. I soon began seeing how much happiness they would bring to our foodies, and this is where Collies and Co. was born.

“Our sessions allow people who may not be able to have a dog, who have recently lost their dog, or those who just love dogs, the opportunity to experience the positive emotions they bring out in a comfortable and safe environment.

“They (the sessions) don’t just benefit our human friends, but our dog friends too. We use these sessions to help create positive experiences and it provides us with many opportunities to teach our puppies focus and to help desensitise them to a range of different things.”

"Beyond sad"

The post attracted hundreds of comments on the Collies and Co. Instagram page and thousands of comments on a Facebook post from people who loved the café and were sad to see it close. 

One person said “this is beyond sad. So sorry you guys are going through this especially through the festive season. Hoping the universe throws an opportunity for Collies and Co. to come back”.

Another said “No! We just moved from Victoria and were going to visit at the weekend”.

A regular visitor said she would miss interacting with the puppies.

“I’ve been about seven times this year. As a huge animal lover, and dogs in particular, coming and bonding with the pups here have been one of the happiest memories this year. Not being ready for a dog myself just yet, this place feels like home to me and nothing compares to the feeling of a dog’s company. Beyond sad you guys had to close so suddenly. Wishing you all the love in the world.”