Deb Hamilton (Photo by Fran Marshall)
Harvey Walsh and Penny Carlisle are handing over the reins to iconic Yass wine spot, Yazzbar.
Long-time manager Deb Hamilton is stepping up to the plate and said she has a lot of ideas to expand the business and get more customers in.
Deb said it feels surreal but she’s still doing similar day-to-day tasks as she did before she took over the bar.
“It is very exciting,” she said. “I’d always wanted to go into another business.”
Harvey said the sale would have happened earlier, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed it.
“We’ve kind of done what we wanted to do with Yazzbar,” he said. “Once Deb started to manage it she started taking it to a different level.”
“We thought well maybe we should get out of the way,” Harvey said. “There’s no one that we would prefer to sell it to then Deb.”
When Harvey decided to stand as a candidate for the Yass Valley Council he said he thought it would be nice if they could sell the business before the election so if elected he could focus on his councillor duties.
Harvey said he was a little bit sad to sell the bar. “You put your heart and soul into anything, and then you just kind of pass it on but we live upstairs so we’ll still pop in certainly.”
“All the stars aligned,” he said. “Timing is perfect, and Deb is very delighted.”
Deb said she liked the history of how Penny and Harvey set up Yazzbar.
“I take my hat off to Penny and Harvey for hanging in there,” she said. “I think the bar for them was an extension of their lounge room.”
Harvey said Deb simply gets the Yazzbar. “She’s going to continue showcasing local wines, supporting local musicians and keeping the price inclusive and friendly.”
“I love what Penny and Harvey have done with the Yazzbar and I just want to increase it and make it better and probably add a few tweaks here and there,” Deb said.
Deb said she will eventually replace the old-fashioned till with a tablet, improve the kitchen, and add outside heating.
“It’s all very exciting,” she said. “All the staff were all very excited and they are all very happy for me.”
“I’ve got a really good team going, I see them as my family.”
“I’m looking forward to the next few years,” Deb said.
“Penny and I would like to congratulate Deb, we think she’s the best person to continue running Yazzbar,” Harvey said. “We wouldn’t have sold it to her if we didn’t think that.”
By Brianna O’Rourke
