The home of the good old-fashioned, takeaway shop burger has been found, and it’s nestled just off the main road in the East Armidale Store. For twenty years now owner Brad Kembrey has been serving up delicious takeaway food and it’s easy to see why it’s become a neighbourhood favourite.
Mr Kembrey, who has lived in Armidale all his life, has fond memories of visiting the store as a child.
“It was my family store, where I used to go as a kid,” said Mr Kembrey.
“So when it came up for sale, I saw the potential and jumped at the chance. I’m drawn to the country—I’m not a big city person at all.”
Good food with a side helping of nostalgia
Playing to a keen sense of nostalgia, Kembrey was careful to keep all the essential elements of the old store when he started renovations. He added his own personal touch with street-style murals on the brightly coloured walls.
An especially eye-catching, and mouth-watering feature is the quintessential lolly bar which has been updated to include every kind of confection imaginable and more.
However, for Mr Kembrey, the most important aspects of the store are found in the interaction with his customers and he attributes his love for them as one of the store’s greatest successes.
“It’s all about good food and customer service,” said Mr Kembrey.
These two guiding principles are evidently working well, resulting in countless comments from happy shoppers on their Facebook and numerous positive reviews on Google raving about the food and impeccable service.
Boasting an impressive selection of burgers and takeaway staples, Mr Kembrey tells us that one of the most popular items from the East Armidale Store is the Tradie Burger – a local legend loved by all, tradies included.
“The Tradie Burger is pretty much a salad-free burger—potato scallop, bacon, onion rings, special sauce, American cheese,” said Kembrey.
Another popular item is their loaded fries that come with an extraordinary number of toppings to choose from.
“I have recently discovered the amazingness of their bacon, cheese and gravy loaded chips, and now life will never be the same,” said Caitlin, a regular.
Alongside their popular burgers and other takeaway fare, the store also stocks a range of everyday necessities, including newspapers, milk, eggs and coffee.
Hard work and customer focus
A number of locals who voted for East Armidale Store in the Best in the New England 2024 complimented Brad and his team on their hard work and dedication to customers.
“They are old school, community minded, hardworking. It’s delicious food made from scratch and with care. It’s hard to find a business owner with as much care for his customers as you do with Brad Kembrey. [East Armidale Store] will always be my go-to for authentic, delicious, old-school takeaway!” Jess said.
Kembrey says that running the store does not come without its challenges and he is always working alongside his employees in a team effort to serve all their customers.
“From the time you open to the time you close, it’s pretty full-on,” said Mr Kembrey.
“You’re always preparing, serving, and keeping everything running smoothly, but if you take on a store like this, you’ve got to be prepared to do the long days, put in the hours, and be a people person,” said Mr Kembrey.
With a steady stream of both in-store customers and orders from their new online delivery service already proving a huge success, there’s no sign of things slowing down for Mr Kembrey any time soon.
Looking ahead, Mr Kembrey and his employees are excited about what the future holds for the store, such as the addition of an ice cream bar in preparation for the hotter months.
Yet, even as new offerings are introduced, some things remain unchanged since a big part of the store’s appeal is that it is enduring and reliable.
This steadfast dependability is appreciated by many of their customers, with one review stating that the store is “Always moving with the times whilst retaining that good old-fashioned taste.”
“They say don’t fix it if it’s not broken,” said Kembrey.
The East Armidale Store has cemented itself as a beloved part of the community —a place where everyone feels welcome, and the past is always present.
East Armidale Store is located on 43 Mann St, Armidale. For more information on the store, visit their website or Facebook page.
East Armidale Store was voted by New England Times readers as the Best Take Away in the New England 2024.
See the other winners and more details about this promotion. Edit