Mission Beach bar owners vow revival
THE owners of a Mission Beach restaurant that burnt down a few days before Christmas have declared the popular business will rise again.
Firefighters are still investigating the cause behind the blaze that destroyed Millers Beach Bar and Grill on Banfield Parade on December 21.
It was the second time the restaurant has faced devas- tation after it was destroyed during Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
The business then underwent an extensive renovation.
Restaurant owners Michael Hannaford and Shane Battle described on social media the loss of their business as an “end of an era.”
“As you can image, we are in deep shock, and feeling sad not only for the business that we loved and have now lost, but also for our community, who have supported the various restaurants in this location over a period of 20-plus years, including ours for the past eight years,” they said.
They added that the premises’ owners intended to rebuild the restaurant, which would take at least 12 months.
“We still have no word as to the cause of the fire,” they said.
“But the dust is settling somewhat and it has become clear that the building of Millers will rise from the ashes once it is ready.”
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman confirmed the blaze was still under investigation.
Mr Hannaford and Mr Battle said the fire had capped a horror year for Mission Beach after the deaths of three skydivers three months ago.
Mission Beach mum Kerri Pike and instructors Toby Turner and Peter Dawson died after a suspected midair collision over the tourist town on October 13.
In addition to the tragedy, two other restaurants, Italian Pizza Pasta House Restaurant and Cafe, and the Shanti Cafe on Porter Promenade, received significant damage in a fire on July 9.
“We have all experienced or been touched by loss and this seems to us like a full stop at the bottom of the exclamation mark,” the pair wrote.
“We pray that 2018 brings untold happiness and joy to all in our community.”