CHEF’S Inc – Cleveland’s eating out precinct has closed, according to the business’s Facebook page.
It’s a disappointing outcome for a business that started so well just a few months ago.
The page says the closure is for the winter and we can only hope that it reopens, perhaps in September, and can run annually at least for about eight months.
Despite repeated attempts, the Chef’s Inc principal has not returned calls to let us know exactly what is happening. Perhaps that is because at this stage he does not know himself.
Regardless, it would have been better for the businesses’ long term future to let people know about the situation.
Chef’s Inc opened with a four-figure crowd but over recent weeks, especially as cold snaps hit, crowds have dwindled down to a few hundred, making it tough for the dozen or so stall holders.
To approve this commercial venture was a hard decision for Redland City councillors who were under pressure from surrounding businesses and residents to refuse it so as to protect existing businesses and the area’s amenity.
Council approved it on planning grounds, which is as it should. After that it was up to the business to prosper or fall based on expertise, product and acumen. It’s what’s called “letting the market decide”.
It was always going to be tough for the outdoor venue as winter set in. South-east Queenslanders are notorious for staying home, even with the mildest chill.
As well, with the project starting late due to unforeseen delays, it caused stall holders to miss most of the prime summer eating-out period.
Council allowed one of its car parks to be used for this venture and it obviously cost ratepayers some tens of thousands to have complicated planning and state approvals in place. The community was to have a return on this investment via site leasing.
Council will no doubt want to keep some of these details commercial-in-confidence but given the closure it raises the issue about what conditions were set for the site long term.
Did planners envisage the site would close so quickly and, if so, what now?
We can only hope that not too much has been lost on the venture because at this point it is virtually impossible to gauge how it will go if it reopens in summer.
