IT’S A KNOCKOUT AT THE POPULAR AVENUE BAR
A SURFERS Paradise venue of 30-plus years has knocked out an entire wall separating its bar and restaurant to entice more foot traffic in.
The Avenue co-owners Mike and Vince Russo helped contractors remove the wall and a private area in a busy 48 hours this week.
Mike Russo said it now opened the venue up so people passing on the footpath could see and hear what was going on through to the back bar and live stage.
The Russos relocated from a Orchid Avenue-Cavill Mall corner spot in 2016 to go across the road, spending $3 million on a new fitout.
The wall removal is their first major renovation since.
“Over the road our live music was so visual and audible,” Mike Russo said.
“But here the bar room is up the back, out of sight and out of mind. We might have 200 people up the back bar. But we’ve had so many people here four or five times saying they didn’t even know we had that bar up the back.
“You only have a small window of opportunity to grab people’s attention.”
The live stage is now in the centre of the venue. A 500litre copper Carlton Draught tank will be mounted as a streetside showpiece.
Avenue’s live entertainment every night includes comedy and drag queen spectacles plus bands and DJs.