Eateries forced to tighten their belts
THE marketing of the Gold Coast’s premier restaurant precinct and other business districts will be put under the microscope during a review of the city’s promotional bodies.
Protracted road works, high rents and the Commonwealth Games have contributed to the closure of several eateries and retailers in Broadbeach, including Onyx.
The Restaurant Industry Support Gold Coast Association says some businesses had seen trade fall by between 30 and 70 per cent in the lead-up to the Games, with the effects still lingering.
Some restaurant owners have called for improved promotion of the area by Broadbeach Alliance and Gold Coast City Council.
Council events and tourism boss Cr Bob La Castra said the promotion and marketing of the area, among others would be done as part of a review of the Surfers Paradise Alliance, Broadbeach Alliance and Connection Southern Gold Coast to be completed by November.
But while some businesses are struggling, one of the area’s success stories has been Miss Margarita Broadbeach
The popular restaurant, which has focused on customers’ needs according to its co-owner, Emma Thomson.
“The reason we set up in Broadbeach was that it draws people in for eating and drinking, but that seemed to have ebbed away,” she said.
“Our trade has undoubtedly been affected. However, despite the challenges Miss Margarita continues to shake up great cocktails and serve yummy Mexican.
“We have defined offerings so locals will come and find us, as opposed to us relying on passing traffic.
“We did not buy into the Commonwealth Games hype – we just stuck to our normal staffing levels, our normal opening hours and decided to just make the best of what happened.
“We were disappointed with the amount of passing traffic but we did OK.”
Onyx announced its closure over the weekend, with bar owner Lauren Hyland comparing Broadbeach to Main Beach’s Tedder Ave, where high rents and tough economic times saw many shops close.
She said the Surf Parade works had hit the strip hard.
The $1 million revamp of Surf Parade included the removal of some on-street carparks and streetscaping to beautify the area ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The project ultimately ran months over schedule and $500,000 over budget.
Koi owner Patrick Gennari said other businesses needed to find ways of refreshing in the wake of increased competition.
“Nobody is putting money into renovations,” he said. “They expect people to come simply because the doors are open while I renovate every two years so it always looks new.
“We need good restaurants in here because it brings the street alive, and the less there are the worse it makes it for everyone.”
Area councillor Paul Taylor said he did not believe Broadbeach was in a slump and said the difficulties facing restaurateurs were the same across the city.
“I think all restaurants are struggling at the moment but they are starting to come back again,” he said.
I THINK ALL RESTAURANTS ARE STRUGGLING AT THE MOMENT BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO COME BACK
CR PAUL TAYLOR