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Grab a fresh juice after the beach, stop in for a matcha with the dog, or pick up classic fish and chips with the kids. SALT Aldinga Beach is on its way to becoming a new meeting place for the area’s growing community.
SALT will bring together three distinct offerings under one banner, with the AKA Billies site gradually transitioning as the new concept rolls out ahead of its expected completion early next year.
The café will continue operating as AKA Billies while SALT launches its takeaway component, before the broader precinct evolves into a one-stop destination for family-friendly takeaway, a relaxed dog-friendly atrium and a 110-seat restaurant and function space.
The first stage is almost ready, with SALT’s takeaway expected to open in early October.
General manager Jim said his vision is to create somewhere locals can use throughout the day and across the seasons, rather than another venue built purely around the summer rush.
“We’re about to build something monumental … something the entire community will be very proud of.”
Picture picking up a smooth matcha, fresh juice or barista-made coffee from a charming hole-in-the-wall, with crashing waves in the background and the salty sea air drifting across the Esplanade.
The kids can head to the playground across the road, the dog can settle in beside you with a Puppuccino, and once the full transformation is complete, you might return to the restaurant for classic fish and chips by the beach.
The project is being led by Jim, his 25-year-old daughter and a silent partner, combining more than three decades of hospitality experience with a trendier approach to the new venue. Jim’s hospitality experience has included opening Jimmy’s Takeaway and the Normanville Kiosk and Café, before the latter was later incorporated into the local surf club.
When the opportunity at Aldinga Beach arose, he said the rapidly growing coastal community felt like the right place to put that experience into something bigger.
“So let’s put the 30 years of experience into this and make it something that will be memorable not only for the community but also to tourists.”
Rather than leaning into an obvious nautical theme, the team wanted the new identity to feel more naturally connected to their picturesque surroundings.
“What better name than SALT? It sort of brings it all together.”
The takeaway will be the first part of the project to arrive, operating seven days a week.
Next will come the atrium, which Jim describes as a relaxed extension of the beach itself. Open approximately from 7.30am to 3pm, the space will be dog-friendly until 3pm and cater for people coming straight off the sand for casual and classic bites.
The final and most substantial stage will be a roughly 110-seat enclosed restaurant at the front of the property, which is currently progressing through council approvals. The space is designed to have a more elevated feel than the atrium, and is planned to operate across breakfast, lunch and dinner with availability for private functions.
Jim hopes the restaurant will be completed in early 2027, creating a venue capable of serving locals beyond the traditional summer rush.
While each part of SALT will have its own identity, relaxed and beachy in the atrium, family-friendly in the takeaway and more refined in the restaurant, Jim said the broader idea was straightforward.
“There’s just something for everyone … [it’s] more in touch with the community than AKA Billie’s.”
SALT Aldinga Beach
When: SALT Takeaway opening early October, broader transformation continuing into early 2027.
For updates, keep an eye on their social media.
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