In the middle of the coronavirus lockdown period, coffee lovers across Brisbane received a heavy blow when the team at Campos announced on Wednesday May 6 it would be closing its Newstead flagship Campos Long Island. Fortuitously, an unlikely saviour stepped in to take over the space and ensure locals could still get a grab-and-go caffeine fix. The crew behind Total Fusion Platinum (situated upstairs in the Long Island Building) took on the ground-floor cafe space, repositioning the concept as Long Island Refuel – a pop-up marketplace for those looking to detox and retox. Long Island Refuel can be considered an upmarket convenience store – one stocked with a host of pantry fillers, biodynamic and organic wines, pre-made meals and a menu of takeaway-oriented morsels.
If your kitchen stockpile is looking a little bit grim, you can skip the supermarket bustle and snatch up some of the artisanal goods on Long Island Refuel’s shelves. Here you’ll find everything from Goodies & Grains granola, gluten- and dairy-free chocolate from Pana Organic, and Good Fat Mayo from Undivided Food Co, to Church Farm General Store sauces, totopos from La Tortilleria and bone-marrow butter made in house. Those sick of cooking can let the Long Island Refuel team take care of lunch or dinner, with a bevy of ready-to-eat meals made fresh daily (think free-range pork belly with green lentils, tomato and potato, chickpea and sweet-potato salad with yoghurt dressing, and quinoa, red rice, carrot and pistachio salad). When it comes to booze, Long Island Refuel favours biodynamic and organic wine from makers such as LATTA Vino and Shobbrook Wines, pre-made cocktails from The Everleigh Bottling Co., and gin from the likes of Four Pillars. Over at the coffee bar, folks can nab a cup of Bellissimo Coffee or a drink inspired by Total Fusion’s Refuel Bar. Sip on four kinds of natural and organic smoothies or opt for an invigorating tea-based tonic crafted using adaptogenic mushrooms and Chinese herbs. A range of pastries are also available to chomp on the move, not to mention cabinet eats like egg-and-bacon burgers, pork-and-fennel sausage rolls, lasagne sausage rolls and toasted sandwiches.
Long Island Refuel was initially expected to operate for only a couple of months, but the team has elected to extend the concept’s tenure for an additional 8–12 weeks. Later in the year the spot will shut for some substantial renovations, reopening with a new name, a brand-new fit-out and a new food offering stretching from breakfast to dinner. Stay tuned for more info!