COVID HITS CHARRED DREAM
Popular restaurant shuts doors amid industry struggles
A POPULAR Toowoomba restaurant is no more, with the doors shutting on Charred. Owner Dave Wood confirmed the closure of the eatery on Margaret St in East Toowoomba, with real estate signs erected outside the site and its social media accounts deactivated.
The venue is the latest in the Toowoomba region to close up shop following the imposing of social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19.
The site is now for lease through LJ Hooker.
ONE of Toowoomba’s most popular restaurants has shut its doors.
“For lease” signs have gone up outside Charred Toowoomba, which was based out of the old Weis Restaurant on Margaret St in East Toowoomba.
Along with closing the premises, the restaurant’s website and social media accounts have been shut down as well.
The highly-popular venue was run by Dave Wood, who confirmed the closure.
Charred was among the hundreds of eateries across the region hit hard by the COVID-19 restrictions in March.
“I’m not against the new laws, but the reality on the ground is I’ve got six staff and with the new laws coming in, it turns my 100-seat restaurant into a 21-seat place,” Mr Wood told The Chronicle at the time.
“It’s everyone in hospitality – we’re going to be the first to get hit, but we’re nowhere near the last.”
Since launching in late 2018, the restaurant earned a popular following, with plenty praising its menu on sites like TripAdvisor.
Charred also placed an emphasis on using local produce in its dishes.
LJ Hooker agent Chris Stewart said while the demise of Charred was sad for the community, the vacant space offered an opportunity for another small operator.
“Toowoomba has been resilient through this COVID-19 period (as) we haven’t seen a decrease in the residential vacancy rates,” he said.
“That means the spending population is still here, so the ability to lease properties for mum and dad operators is good.
“The Charred venue has a full kitchen, so you can walk in and start trading quickly.”