End of an era as Beavers closes

IT was the end of an era in Port Alfred yesterday when legendary Sunshine Coast pie shop Beavers served its last customer.

A popular pit-stop for hungry travellers and nocturnal locals for 35 years, unsuspecting people stopping by yesterday for a snack said they were disappointed the 24/7 eatery was closing down to make way for an unnamed franchise business.

But an emotional Justin Wilmot, whose family owned the business for 25 years, said the legendary pies would be back sometime soon.

“We are taking a break for now, but the pies will be back. We just need some time to breathe.”

Holding back the tears, Wilmot recalled how the family had spent many happy years in the business his father, Keith Wilmot, bought on an impulse in 1992.

He said Beavers was started in 1981 by Gavin Deenik who decided pies were easier for passing motorists to eat than hamburgers.

“Legend has it the name came about when they realised they would be busy as beavers making pies,” Wilmot said.

On its busiest day a few years ago the eatery sold 3 000 pies to hungry Ox Braai revellers.

On of the weirdest occurrences over the years was a dare that involved inebriated late-night revellers going in to order pies naked.

“The person would lean against the pie counter and point down and order a sausage roll,” Wilmot chuckled.

He and his sister, Jo, said it was sad the neighbourhood cafe diner concept was dying out.

Soon after Keith Wilmot bought Beavers, staff were robbed while locking up and he decided to keep it open 24/7 to prevent a repeat.

Anybody in a uniform, from “police to ambulance drivers and private security guards”, were given free coffee, and the problem disappeared.

Reegan Muller said he used to stop in at Beavers several times a week to buy pies and the popular chicken strips and chips special.

“Beavers was a legend spot. I am o sad that a small homegrown business is being replaced by a national franchise.”

He said he would also miss the friendly staff, some of who had worked there for 35 years.

Disappointed Cookie Naidoo, of East London, said: “It was a must-stop for our family for years. We would buy pies for the road and even take [some] home and freeze them to eat later.”

Karen Long, who ran Beavers on a lease from October until yesterday, said it had been emotional telling people the business was closing down.