"I've been in Rathmines since I was just one year old. My parents used to own the newsagency here," Ms Hadfield said.

She remembers the general store on the corner well, too.

"I remember the wooden floors, the pinball machines, and it being full of kids," she said.

"We'd come in and buy lollies."

That general store is now the cafe Jules by the Lake, Ms Hadfield's new business venture.

Not that you would recognise the building these days.

Lounge chairs, flat-screen TVs, and works by local artists adorn the modern cafe.

Ms Hadfield was the former administrative manager at Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club.

Since taking over at the cafe in April, she's been overwhelmed by the positive response from locals.

"I've had so much support. The locals really have been wonderful," she said.

"People tell us that it's just so nice to come in here now - with our service and the food."

The cafe is open from 8am to late Wednesdays through Mondays.

It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks all day.

Among the most popular main meals on the current menu are home-cooked lamb's fry and bacon, steak and kidney pie, and marinated lamb shanks.

And the cafe's range of scones, cakes and cheesecakes make it hard for many of the locals to walk past the cafe without being tempted.