MUSIC TURNS TO MACCAS?
NIGHT QUARTER SITE’S NEW SHOCK
TWO years after popular street food markets and music venue NightQuarter was shut over a rent hike, the site remains a vacant gravel pit.
But this sight for sore eyes may soon be a site for more fries, with fast food giant McDonald’s said to be circling.
NightQuarter’s owners were overwhelmed by community support after the shock closure, having drawn crowds of 5000-7500 on Friday and Saturdays.
Michelle Christoe and Ian Van der Woude walked away after the landlords doubled the rent to about $400,000 a year.
The 1.06ha block at 1 Town Centre Drive, Helensvale is owned by the state-owned Queensland Investment Corporation
and Westfield shopping centre operator Scentre, both directly and through subsidiary RE1. Scentre did not want to reveal any plans for the Helensvale site, which sits between the Gold Coast Highway and Helensvale train station.
“1 Town Centre Drive remains an important part of Westfield Helensvale,” a Westfield Helensvale statement said. “The precinct has hosted a number of entertainment and retail experiences including markets, a circus and the Queensland State Fair. We have no further updates at this stage.”
McDonald’s would not elaborate on speculation it had been mulling a deal to buy the corner site, with plans to also host a 7-11 and a KFC.
“McDonald’s continues to consider a range of potential opportunities throughout the Gold Coast and no decisions have been finalised regarding 1 Town Centre Drive at this time,” the company said.
NightQuarter subsequently relocated to Birtinya on the Sunshine Coast, taking the economic benefits and many of the vendors with them.
The valuable site has since been desolate and tenant-free and Ms Christoe said the closure remained upsetting.
“I was devastated when I drove past the other day. It’s sad looking back because more effort could have gone into helping us. So much passion went into that site.”
Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce president Gary Mays said it was disappointing such a high-profile site had been left empty: “We’d hope they would make some valuable use of it sooner rather than later.”
NightQuarter’s owners faced significant costs to relocate the site to the Sunshine Coast, where they were almost immediately hit by restrictions caused by COVID-19.
“It’s been a difficult journey, having to close, go through the move and then go through the stages of building again. We were delayed six months with COVID, but the community has really embraced us and it’s tracking really well.”
The husband-and-wife team launched NightQuarter with its $3 entry fee and array of world cuisine, bars, market stalls and entertainment as “a festival every weekend” in November 2015. It was successful from the beginning.
The entrepreneurs say they ploughed millions into making it one of the most sought-after mid-sized live music venues in Australia.
Since opening in 2015, the venue has hosted more than 50 concerts with major touring acts.
I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN I DROVE PAST THE OTHER DAY. IT’S SAD LOOKING BACK … SO MUCH PASSION WENT INTO THAT SITE
MICHELLE CHRISTOE