Takeaway owner at wit’s end

Mum wants out of lease

I have been doing this for nothing because if I took a wage I wouldn’t make rent Emma Egner Miami Coast Roast and Fry owner

A Gold Coast takeaway shop is begging to get out of its lease after 15 months of trading and its owner says imminent lightrail construction is the “icing on the cake”.

The heartbreaking plea from Miami Coast Roast and Fry owner Emma Egner highlights the challenges faced by small business, including a crowded market and prolonged pain as the city’s public transport system is upgraded.

Ms Egner said she opened her store at the start of 2022 and hoped it would make enough money so her husband could quit his job.

She said after 15 months they were only making $400 a day after being open for 13 hours.

“We have tried everything,” she said. “We have had social media people, letterbox drops, our prices are very cheap considering how much I should be charging.”

Ms Egner said she was the only worker as they could not afford any other staff.

“Our initial hope was that my husband and I would make enough for him to quit his job after it built up and we could do it together,” she said.

“It doesn’t earn enough money to even do that.

“I have been doing this for nothing because if I took a wage I wouldn’t make rent.”

Ms Egner said she was struggling to compete in a saturated market, with competition just a few doors down. She shared a post to Facebook pleading for help and ideas on how to break her commercial lease.

“I hate my life and my shop,” she said.

“I have eight months left until the end of my contract. “I need help.”

Ms Egner said looming light rail stage 3 construction was the “icing on the cake” when it came to wanting to shut up shop.

“It’s something I should have looked into,” she said.

“If I had of known or looked into it I wouldn’t be here in my position right now.”

Ms Egner said she would have to forgo her $15,000 bond and come up with another $15,000 to pay out her lease.

“No one will take a takeaway shop off my hands when there is going to be no parking,” she said. “All I want to do is go back to being a mum at home with my six kids.”

The Gold Coast Highway recently saw major traffic changes through Mermaid Beach as workers relocated and upgraded major water mains, sewers and gas infrustructures.

The third stage of the light rail is set to take commuters a further 6.7km from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads. Its construction is creating 760 jobs and renewing key Gold Coast underground service infrastructure as it goes.