The Hills are alive…

Edit 20. The Kallista General Store, Kallista.

The hills are alive with great coffee, wine and community. A feature of the Kallista main street for over 100 years, the General Store is a warm hug for locals and tourists alike. Purchased 10 years ago by Josephine and her sister‑in‑law Liz, it has become a place where people are welcomed with great coffee, beautiful produce and genuine connection — whether you’re collecting your mail, grabbing a takeaway, or settling in for a wine at their newly opened wine bar.

Josephine, a winemaker, and Liz, a lawyer with a passion for food, took over the store in 2016 with a vision to champion small, local and independent businesses. “It was a beautiful time. My youngest used to sleep under the counter. She loved it — she had her mum and her auntie here.”

In 2020, Liz was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away after a short battle. Alongside the chaos of Covid, these were challenges no one plans for, yet Josephine pushed ahead, continuing to build the store into what it is today. When asked what brings her in each day, she says, “It’s our people, the customers, the community… oh, and I love food and wine.”

Walk through the door and you’ll be greeted by name. Jackie, the friendly barista, knows her locals well: “Kallista really is a community‑focused town. It’s beautiful. People come in and tell us their stories, we get some really lovely people through the door.” Josephine hopes the precinct continues to thrive: “Every trader here supports each other. We feel like we should be calling ourselves the heart of the Dandenong’s.”

Whether you’re local or passing through, the Kallista General Store is a must‑visit. Enjoy a warm coffee, a smile, a gourmet hamper for your adventures, or a wine or two at the bar, you can even sample Josephine’s own label, Full Circle. Try “Big Girl Pants” Shiraz, dedicated to Liz.

The Kallista General Store is located at 85 Monbulk Road, Kallista drop in for a visit, and give them a follow @kallistageneralstore