Hooded robbers who smashed into garage; Staff member threatened by thieves at petrol station

Byline: SOPHIE DOUGHTY

Local coffee enthusiasts Holliday, Stephen Michalik and husband and wife Laurent and Laura Massenat founded Elemental in 2008 after lamenting the lack of gourmet coffee available at local restaurants."We want to make it a place where if you just want a cup of coffee and no "blah, blah, blah," that's fine, but if you want to come sit and hang out and geek it up with us about coffee, then we're your place, too," Elemental co-owner Chris Holliday said."We kind of see it as a part of the city rising up, and the coffee culture here rising up with it," said Laura Massenat, Elemental co-founder."Any witnesses or anyone else with information about who is responsible should also contact us."Elemental chose its new site, once the home of an auto repair business, because of its close proximity to the booming downtown and Midtown areas.CAPTION(S):Acclaimed Architect Hans Butzer's firm bgDesign is helping out with the design of the new coffee bar, which will feature an urban, modern ambiance with communal seating.Thankfully no-one was injured in the robbery. The two men are both described as being white and between 18 and 20 years old."We've been carrying out extensive inquiries into this robbery but have yet to trace the suspects.Det Con Shaun Fordy, who is investigating the raid, said: "The two suspects smashed their way into the service station and demanded money from the till.The early-morning robbery was caught on CCTV.Alternatively, ring the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.The company roasts coffee twice a week and delivers it to metro area cafes and specialty grocers.The hooded duo forced their way through a glass door to raid the Esso garage in Newcastle city centre.And detectives have today released images of the people they want to trace.CATCH THEM Police outside the Esso garage on Barrack Road in Newcastle, which was targeted by these two robbers, caught on CCTV"We're now releasing images of two men who can help with our inquiries and would urge anyone who recognises them to get in touch as soon as possible.Holliday and Michalik both have careers in information technology in Oklahoma City; Laurent Massenat is principal of Obelisk Engineering Inc. Laura Massenat also works at Obelisk and runs the nonprofit Eat Wise Oklahoma City, which promotes healthy eating habits among local schoolchildren.

CATCH THEM Police outside the Esso garage on Barrack Road in Newcastle, which was targeted by these two robbers, caught on CCTV