SLICE OF HISTORY AT KIRRA
PIZZA FRANCHISE CLOSES SOUTHERN DOORS
PAUL WESTON, KIRSTIN PAYNE, ANDREW POTTS
THE council wants to get a higher rental return on the historic Kirra Pavilion and expects the Pizza Hut site, set to close today, will become a luxury restaurant.
Council documents reveal that city officers, after discussions with consultants at Knight Frank, agreed that a lease of 20 years – 10 years with a further 10 as an option – would be the best way to proceed.
Pizza lovers lined up around the block yesterday to get their last slice and a chance to reminisce on times at the Kirra Beach diner.
Council received 11 submissions in its marketing campaign after putting the site to tender and five, which have been shortlisted, offered a “substantial” gain on the current annual gross rent from the Pizza Hut.
“These included three restaurants, the microbrewery and restaurant, and international concept restaurant,” the council report said.
Council officers admit it is difficult to determine the impact of the changes, but the Kirra Surf Life Saving Club, which showed an interest, understands the integrity of the heritage-listed building must remain intact.
“The Pizza Hut had occupied the place for almost 40 years. This is just a new lease entitlement,” a surf lifesaving source said.
“You’ve got to come up with a fit-out as well. It’s in a pretty dilapidated state. The facade will stay much the same. Council is hoping to get up to $400,000 in rent.”
Area Councillor Gail O’Neill expects the shortlist will be reduced to three but remains unsure of the timeline for a decision as council awaits an updated report.
“You want the right tenant to be in there. It’s just a fantastic site,” Cr O’Neill said.
Pizza Hut owner Tom Singh said he planned to go out with a bang and thank the community for their support.
Still angry and disappointed about the decision to close the restaurant which had been in the space for more than 30 years, Mr Singh said staff had only just come to terms with their impending unemployment.
“Employees are frustrated too and so are the community, we have been part of the area for such a long time, a lot of people have memories here,” he said.
“We are just trying to make sure we can feed as many people as we can before we close.”
According to Mr Singh, the team was going to celebrate together after the final pizza was served. “It is the end of an era,” he said.
The Kirra Pavilion was built in 1922, replacing an old structure which cost just 30 pounds and didn’t even have a roof.
The building was left devastated by the 1974 floods which saw much of its beach side completely destroyed.