Another shot at coffee dispute

Crema boss back to square one

MORE than a year after being locked out of his Bundall coffee shop, Crema Espresso owner Antony Forbutt is no closer to resolving a dispute with his landlord.

Mr Forbutt, the managing director of Crema Espresso with 19 stores in Queensland, opened a drive-through outlet at 88 Bundall Rd in March 2018.

The property, which has a Freedom service station next to the coffee shop, is owned by Romolo Bos.

In May last year Mr Forbutt filed an application with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal alleging Mr Bos had breached the terms of the lease agreement by allowing barista-made coffee to be sold from the Freedom station.

Mr Bos responded in July by locking the doors to the shop, claiming that he was owed $185,000 in unpaid rent. The store has remained closed ever since.

Mr Forbutt said yesterday progress was being made after it was proposed the tenancy would be split into two, with Mr Forbutt and a chemist each taking half of the store.

Mr Forbutt said the plan was for him to sublease from the chemist, a move he supported.

However, the plan had fallen through when the chemist decided to pull out and the dispute was back before QCAT.

“It is the same status as it was 12 months ago,” he said.

“There is nothing new happening.”

He said it would be another four weeks before QCAT provided directions on the next step, which was likely to involve more mediation.

Mr Bos was contacted for comment.

Mr Forbutt said the retail environment was “dire”.

He said landlords had little understanding of the financial losses retailers had sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They are not acknowledging we have lost a huge amount of money,” Mr Forbutt said.

“There are zombie businesses running on JobKeeper and when that disappears we will see a lot of businesses go.”