Timeline

Journey with us to see how it all began. From a small gift shop in Neutral Bay to the brand it is today - we are proud to be celebrating 25 years.

Step Back In Time

1998

In 1998, Alfresco Emporium's journey began with a small 50sqm gift shop in Neutral Bay, Sydney called Alfresco Living. A few months later, another store was opened next door called Alfresco Dining. Founder, Janice and her husband Kevin Hore, alongside their three children Linda, Karen, and Michael, poured their passion into developing the Alfresco Emporium brand. Today, their dedication has transformed the business into a renowned family-run brand, celebrated for its exceptional lifestyle and dining offerings.

Jan knew she wanted the store name to start with “A” and the interpretation on the word “Alfresco” expressed a “freshness” that appealed to Jan, and so, “Alfresco” was born.

Step Back In Time

1999

A new store opened in July 1999 at Northbridge Plaza, combining both Alfresco Living and Alfresco Dining into one store. However, the kitchen and dining side expanded so rapidly that the store was split again, with an Alfresco Dining opening upstairs in the Plaza while Alfresco Living remained on the first floor.

At Christmas time both stores would display a wide collection of Christmas decorations with this offering continuing to out do itself year after year to this day. Christmas is a favoured time of year for our founder who enthusiastically embraces all that is Christmas, decorating her entire home with her favourite tree (or two), wreaths (a few), and of course her decorations.

Step Back In Time

2002

In 2002 Alfresco Living and Alfresco Dining were united to form Alfresco Emporium at a newly built shopping centre, Pittwater Place in Mona Vale. A second Alfresco Emporium also opened in Cherrybrook in 2004 with both stores becoming prestigious award winners.

With the growth of online shopping, we took a leap into the digital world in 2006, and developed a strong online presence, now delivering across the globe.

Marketing campaigns often involve all of the family and grandchildren coming together, creating memorable moments to share with customers and are important in reflecting the brand's strong family focus. At Alfresco Emporium Christmas is about family, which is strongly reflected in every Christmas collection released over the past 25 years.

Step Back In Time

2007

The Collaroy store opened its doors in 2007 and was the fulfilment of Jan's dream to offer a diverse shopping experience with stunning fresh flowers, unique gifts, furniture and homewares in one location to create a shopping “Emporium”. Jan and Kev would go to the Homebush Flower Market at 4am to choose the best fresh flowers with which to make beautiful bouquets and delight customers with colour and fragrance as they entered the store.

Jan's passion for cooking not only brings joy to her staff when she shares the fruits of her labor at the office and store, but it also served as the inspiration behind the establishment of a charming café at the Collaroy store in 2010.

Step Back In Time

2012

2012 saw Alfresco Emporium open a new store at the Island Emporium shopping centre in Bundall, situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. The Island Emporium offers a peaceful shopping and dining experience, making it an ideal destination to explore fashion boutiques, luxurious salons, fine dining options, and of course, our homewares.

The stores aim to provide customers with a visual, relatable, and sensory experience with friendly staff who develop personal connections with customers.

Step Back In Time

2017

In 2017 Alfresco Emporium greatly expanded their exclusive design offering, from custom packaging to designer tea towels, bespoke cushion fabric to hand drawn, in-house ceramic patterns.

Our signature Gingerbread Man Jar was born in 2018 and has become a collectors item, with a new design released every year. The product design team has a lot of fun putting the designs together and working out what fun the gingerbread men can get up to each year; from hiding golden tickets to creating snow angels in icing sugar.

Step Back In Time

2022

Jan's daughter, Karen, was instrumental in establishing our interior design services at our Collaroy store. In 2022 Karen brought the service to our Queensland customers, opening an Interior Styling Studio next door to the already established Bundall store.

The family's travels to trade fairs around the world, allows them to select and develop products that suit the Alfresco Emporium brand and bring delight to customers in-store and through the styling services.

We are excited to see what their travels and inspirations bring to the future of the brand!