The real reason why Castlecliff's The Citadel is up for sale

The Citadel owner Charlotte Melser is moving on after setting up the popular Castlecliff cafe in 2016. Photo/ Zaryd Wilson

Charlotte Melser has more than one reason for putting The Citadel on the market sooner than intended.

The woman behind the Castlecliff cafe and burger joint which became the centre of the suburb's rejuvenation project is pregnant with twins.

"I have no interest in attempting to do both, you know?

"The job I'm currently doing is more than a fulltime job and it's been a real honour - that I didn't really expect - to bring this beast to fruition."

Melser is selling The Citadel which she opened in late 2016 as the Castlecliff Rejuvenation Project's work on Rangiora St was ramping up.

It became obvious early on that the rejuvenation needed a focal point, she says.

"I guess more than that, the community needed a hub, like every community does.

"Every community needs a place that anchors them and somewhere where you can get to know your neighbours and share ideas and I think it was a really tangible way for the community to see progress happening.

"It wasn't just a beautification process, it was a real stitching together of a broken community that had a sense of pride and togetherness but nothing to show for it."

Melser went into what is her first business venture with plenty of hospitality, management and arts experience and "confidence in my vision".

"But in terms of the expectation it was pretty loose," she says.

"I went into it incredibly blasé and I think that for me that is a little bit of a protective mechanism against stress - and it worked out really well."

Only when she gets to step back will she have time to reflect.

"I honestly don't think I will truly be able to see what I've achieved until I step out and I've kind of always known that."

Although The Citadel has been a success, she never intended to be there forever.

The rigours of hospitality would have taken its toll, she says.

"Hospitality is really hard so, you know, next time you think about giving your server a little bit of lip, remember what they actually go through."

Still, this is much earlier than expected.

"I was pretty adamant I was one of those people that would never have kids," she says.

"It's not because I don't like kids; I'm a stepmother to my amazing stepson and I've got a lot of kids in my life that I adore.

"I think I had a lot further to go to surrender and embrace motherhood than a lot of women do. But when I did make that decision to be a mother it was pretty clear that I couldn't do both."

Charlotte Melser speaks to Green Party leader James Shaw when he visited The Citadel on the campaign trail in 2017.

Melser said leaving the staff behind also made the decision to sell the business tough.

"I sort of work in with the understanding that work is not your life, work is a part of your life," she says.

"We're a family and there's alot of understanding among us a team and there's a lot of emotional support going on.

"It's hard to move on from that. It's hard to let that go. It's just life."

But she thinks it's a good time for someone to take The Citadel through its next phase.

"It has taken so much blood, sweat and tears to create this beast and it has so much more potential for growth, it really does.

"It's really important to me that the next person that takes it on is competent and has experience because they will be going into a pretty busy summer.

"And someone with vision because it's got another year of growth ahead of it.

"Which again is another amazing opportunity for someone to come in when a business is in its growth period it means that you can put your own touch on it."