By PAUL MILLAR
DUBAI might not be everybody’s cup of tea but a Geelong man is creating a mini empire with a grounding in coffee.
Former Saint Joseph’s student Tom Arnel is flourishing in the stifling heat of the UAE, operating three eateries and planning to open seven bar-restaurants over the next 18 months.
After leaving St Joseph’s in 2003 he gave up any ideas of a career in accounting, starting as an apprentice chef at Lorne.
Since then he has worked in the world’s top eateries, massively expanding the operations of others until realising the big money he was making them could be made for himself.
In November 2013, with business partner Sergio Lopez, he opened a classy cafe – but not in any trendy precinct. The pair opted for an industrial area in the Middle East.
“It was a first for Dubai; very radical Australian-style cafe culture,” Mr Arnel said.
“We focused on having good staff, many of them Australian. It was packed every day with every nationality, it was what was needed.”
“We made enough money to open the Sum of Us, a 230-seater and it’s been just as successful.”
Lamingtons and Pavlovas were always on the menu, he said, while the cafes always had an adventurous twist in the drinks department.
“We introduced a Vegemite milk-shake. Funnily enough, the locals really like it,” Mr Arnel said.
