Brandon Moore’s small cafe in Morwell, a town of just under 15,000 people, is normally a peacefully slow local spot.
The shop unexpectedly surged in popularity during the “wild” mushroom murder trial which captivated Australia and the world.
“There’s not too many tourists coming through, unfortunately, it’s mostly locals and workers from around [the court].”
From late April, business was booming for the Daily Cafe, which is among the few takeaway shops in Morwell.
Situated just a short distance from the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court, the cafe quickly became the go-to spot for an early morning snack and a comforting cup of coffee, all thanks to some old-school word-of-mouth.
Rather than hiring more staff to keep up with the demand, Moore said the cafe was actually understaffed.Â
But Morwell locals are hard workers, he said, and they managed just fine.
“I remember the first couple of media people that came in,” he said.
“Then they got the word around and everyone started coming in, having a bit of brekkie then doing their live crosses in the morning.
“We had a joke and a laugh and we got through it.”
Following the verdict announcement, Moore and his team organized a dinner with the media group to show their appreciation for their support in recent months.
Moore said he became close pals with plenty of new customers during the surreal trial, which has undoubtedly changed Morwell forever.
He shared a photo on Instagram after the event and praised them for making “this wild chapter one to remember”.
“I’m probably going to miss it all, it’s quietened down now,” Moore said.
“It’s now back to good old Morwell.”
