Celebrating 25 Years

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.

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.

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.

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!

Commemorating a quarter-century milestone, Jan reminisces about Alfresco Emporium's beginnings in 1998 and its evolution to the present day.