Take things to the Max
Cairns seafood master Max Pantacchini is all smiles these days on the back of one of his boldest business moves to date. Despite rising overhead costs, the Preston Fresh Seafood coowner had enough confidence in the region’s future to undertake a major expansion of his longstanding Smithfield premises. The family invested about $150,000 into creating a new retail shop, which recently opened its doors to the public.
CAIRNS seafood master Max Pantacchini is all smiles these days on the back of one of his boldest business moves to date.
Despite rising overhead costs, including fuel and electricity, the Preston Fresh Seafood co-owner had enough confidence in the region’s future to undertake a major expansion of his longstanding Smithfield premises.
The family invested about $150,000 into creating a new retail shop, which recently opened its doors to the public.
“Cairns is coming out of a tough time – which lasted seven or eight years – and, instead of sitting down and waiting for things to happen, we’ve been happy to reinvest,” Mr Pantacchini said.
“I always say that in Cairns, you get out as much as you put in.
“If you’re willing to work your butt off, the rewards will come – and that’s what I love about the place.
“It won’t be an easy task, but I’m confident we can double what we’re doing now over the next 12 months.
“Cairns is on an amazing path and I can see a lot of new people getting into business here.”
The new Mac Peak Cres retail store operates adjacent to the wholesale arm, which remains the firm’s mainstay.
After opening Pantacchini’s Gourmet Foods with his partner Francoise in 1993, they sold the business a decade ago before returning to the caper in 2013.
“It was tough coming back, especially in the first year,” he said.
“There were times when I thought it was going to be too hard to keep it going.
“We’ve been going from strength to strength since then, but it certainly hasn’t been an easy journey.”
This year marks three decades since Mr and Mrs Pantacchini moved to Cairns to work at the newly reopened Hilton Hotel.
“I came here as a chef and Francoise was a waitress,” he said.
They opened their business 24 years ago at the same Smithfield location from which it operates today.
“Back then it was almost in the middle of the bush, there was sugarcane all around us,” Mr Pantacchini said.
“A lot of people thought we were crazy opening so far away from the city.”
CAIRNS IS COMING OUT OF A TOUGH TIME ... INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN WE’VE BEEN HAPPY TO REINVEST MAX PANTACCHINI
TWO of Cairns’ “prime residential sites” have changed hands for a combined total of $8.65 million.
A 5.4ha block (pictured) at Barnes St, Earlville, and a 7.2ha site on Johanna Rd, Trinity Beach, have development approvals for 56 and 105 lots respectively.
Both sales came on the back of a five-week expressions of interest campaign, which ran during August and September.
“Competition for the sites was very strong with multiple offers being received for each,” said Danny Betros of CBRE Cairns.
“Interestingly, there were a lot of new developers inquire who hadn’t been in the market for some time and were looking for opportunities outside of the capital city areas.”
The Barnes St block had been owned by the Earl family for more than 100 years and it was the first time the property had been offered to the market.
“It is the final piece of undeveloped land in the suburb, which has been fully developed for more than 20 years,” Mr Betros said.
The Johanna Rd site was originally zoned for a new retirement village but the owners applied for a DA to build residential lots.
Mr Betros said work would start during coming months.
“There are three brand-new homes already in place on site as former display homes and these were a bonus for the buyers,” he said.