The Two Wolves Volunteer-Run Cantina Opens in Chippendale

The news has been unbearably grim lately, so whenever we hear about people doing kind things we can’t help but execute a joyful slow-mo fist bump and Billy Elliot-style heel clicking sequence. This week’s proof that humanity isn’t thoroughly rotten comes from 202 Broadway in Chippendale.

This week, The Two Wolves community cantina has opened its doors and also our hearts (sorry for the cheese, we can’t help it). It's a not-for-profit establishment run almost entirely by volunteers, that pours its profits into worthy charity causes and plans to create training opportunities for long-term unemployed young people. If there were an emoji that represented a ray of pure sunshine cutting through the gloom, you can bet your butt we would be using it here.

And when we say it’s run mostly by volunteers, we truly mean it. The cantina has been in the works for some time now and is the love-child of an eclectic group of dreamers including hospitality bigwig Fraser Short, Jesuit priest Father David Braithwaite, Ben Sweeten owner of the Rose Bay Diner and the Kansas City Shuffle and design guru Michael Delany. The team have all come together to work pro bono on the project for the last two years and bring the cantina into being. Father Braithwaite told us that the generosity they’ve encountered from all levels in the production has been astounding, from architects and tradesmen to the 150 volunteers who signed up to keep the cantina running and the profit margins high.

Busy day at The Two Wolves. There's a lot going on behind these doors as we charge towards opening day #twowolvescantina #openingsoon #socialenterprise #sydney #countdown #doors #bar #eatery #chippendale

A photo posted by The Two Wolves (@twowolvescantina) on Sep 18, 2015 at 12:14am PDT

All the money raised goes to projects facilitated by the Cardoner Project, an enterprise Father Braithwaite has been running for five years. During its time, the Cardoner Project has set up volunteer projects and immersion programmes around the world and provided seed capital to worthy causes to help them become self-sufficient. One such project included setting up a small water filtration system for an orphanage in Vietnam, which they use as part of an ice-selling business in the summer, and is in line with their ‘teach a man to fish’ ethos.

David says the long-term goal is to replicate the The Two Wolves cantina around the world and raise even more money to pour back into needy communities. Once established, the next phase of The Two Wolves and Cardoner Project's plan is to train long-term unemployed young people onsite, then seek to place them in employment in other venues. Faith in humanity = restored. Now get down to Chippendale and give something back.

The Two Wolves Community Cantina is now open for dinner at 202 Broadway, Chippendale,  Sydney. To book call (02) 8039 3595.