Hunt for staff to put heart into new icon
IF you want to be part of the most ambitious dining project in the Gold Coast’s history, now’s your chance.
The owner of the $10 million Burleigh Pavilion is looking to fill about 100 positions as it works toward a December opening.
With restaurant staff on board from late November and $50-60,000 in wages a week, high-profile hotelier Ben May said he was looking for people “with passion”.
“We’re opening early December in summer on the Gold Coast and it’s going to be complete madness, so if their heart isn’t in it they won’t last,” said Mr May, the man behind well-known venues Manly Wharf Hotel and Mrs Sippy Bali.
The Gold Coast Bulletin can reveal an artist’s impression of the finished product.
The second-storey dining and function space will collectively be known as Burleigh Pavilion, with the restaurant in the northern corner to operate as The Tropic.
“The Tropic is full-service dining with a full restaurant menu, while the rest of the venue is order at the bar and food is brought to you by our staff. It’s very casual, seaside, super accessible and all serviced from the one central open kitchen,” Mr May said.
“There are design elements that speak to the Gold Coast. My grandma lived here and I spent almost every school holiday here, so I have really fond memories of the area.
“We want (the building) to be an absolute icon for the whole Gold Coast.
“It’s never been given what it’s deserved; it’s been a bit unloved. We’re loving it to a huge degree financially … the fitout will be more than $10 million in total, but a lot of that is in future-proofing the building. We’ve got it for 30 years so it’s worth the investment for us.”
Of the building’s current tenants, Rick Shores recently reopened with a new roof expanding its ocean views, while Nook coffee continues to operate from a shipping container on the footpath until its permanent home is ready.
Fine-dining fixture Oskars on Burleigh served its final lunch on March 5 when its lease was not renewed after a 39-year run on the Gold Coast.
Mr May said his May Group was still in discussion with the ground-level swimming pool’s previous leaseholders.
Councillor Pauline Young said her office fielded multiple inquires each day about plans for the iconic beachfront building.
“People mainly want to know when it’s opening,” she said.
With handover due on December 3, Mr May said opening before Christmas was critical. “I can’t afford not to … we’ve gone so over budget. The builders are doing a fabulous job and we’re planning to be open by around December 10.
“I’ve got some great venues, but to me this is pretty magic. Manly Wharf Hotel was my first big venue and I’m really proud of it – I’ve had it for 15 years – but this is a level up from that again.
“Our business in Bali, Mrs Sippy, is extraordinary, but here it’s a game changer.”