"A lot of people know the Sunrise, it's a local icon that people have been coming to for years."
However, with the expansion, the old premises would trade under the Dry Dock name, she said.
"We have one of the best spots in Tauranga with sun all day," she said. "And it's right by the water - it's a beautiful location." Work had already begun on integrating the two premises, she said, and a hole would be knocked through the wall to link them together.
Ms Johnson said Dry Dock was a Monday to Friday operation, focused on the business community in the downtown area. The expansion would allow Dry Dock to move to seven days a week, and would be serving breakfast, brunch and lunch at the weekend, she said.
"The Dry Dock's business has grown considerably over the past four years," said Ms Johnson, adding that she had placed a particular focus on coffee quality.
Sally Cooke of downtown promotion group Mainstreet said: "Dry Dock is a fantastic example of a really good operator who's worked hard and has established a really good reputation for great service, great food and great coffee.
"It's exciting to see them expand."
Ms Johnson went into the cafe four years ago with no previous experience in the food and beverage business, buying the Dry Dock with her redundancy payout from her previous senior sales role.
The cafe business had a lot of similarities to the sales role in that it was all about positively engaging with people on a regular basis, she said.
Dry Dock is aiming to have its new premises open by Labour Weekend.
Where is it?
The Dry Dock Cafe at 6 Wharf St, downtown Tauranga, will expand into the adjoining Sunrise Cafe premises and become a seven day a week operation.
