Another restaurant has bitten the dust on Indooroopilly’s Station Rd strip

DESPITE a theoretically prime location and plenty of foot traffic, the latest closure on one of Brisbane’s premium restaurant precincts is enough to make you wonder if it’s cursed.

IT’S ENOUGH to make you wonder if there’s a curse.

Another restaurant has bitten the dust in the flash dining precinct outside of the revamped Indooroopilly Shopping Centre.

Despite a theoretically prime location, the Station Rd strip has seen plenty of tenant turnover in the past few years.

Many operators complain they have been unable to attract enough foot traffic despite the huge volumes of humanity who routinely cruise through the retail mecca.

That was the reason cited by failed restaurateur TJ Peabody when he pulled the plug on his Nantucket Kitchen & Bar in May last year.

The latest venue to close is casual Italian eatery Corbett & Claude, which shut the doors last week.

Illustration of Tim Johnson by Brett Lethbridge.

Owner Tim Johnson, who runs two more C&C restaurants in Brisbane as well as other venues, did not return phone calls seeking comment this week.

One of his staff told us the closure only happened because the company’s focus is now on Everton Park, where it is slated to take up space in the new Park Lane foodie zone now under construction.

But that explanation doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

A City Beat spy familiar with the drama tells us that Johnson had essentially engaged in a game of who-will-blink-first with centre management.

“Tim had been in a dispute with his landlord for some time. He’d been withholding rent to drive a bargain, which is a high-risk strategy,’’ our source said.

“It concerned the orientation of the premises and exposure in terms of what the landlord is doing to activate the precinct.’’

Corbette & Claude on Indooroopilly’s Station Rd closed last week.

Centre boss Dean Baker confirmed that C&C’s three-year run on the strip had come to an end “as a result of non-payment of rent for a significant period of time’’.

A new operator is expected to be up and running before Christmas.

Meanwhile, Johnson also has a few headaches with his CBD outlet in the old Corbett Chambers building on Elizabeth St.

Right next door property giant Dexus has started construction on a 12-level office tower fronting Creek St, which is set for completion late next year and will include three ground-floor eateries.

Johnson has complained in writing to Dexus over the impact of the work on his business. But he has to walk a fine line.

“No one can see his restaurant there because of the Dexus development boards all over it, but he wants three units in the new Dexus development so he needs to tread carefully,’’ an insider revealed.

IRONIC GONG

Brisbane legal eagle Damien van Brunschot just snared a gong which has managed to raise a few eyebrows.

Damien Van Brunschot.

The DWF partner has been named as one of the two leading dust disease defence lawyers in Queensland by industry guide Doyles.

He also happens to be married to Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad.

That duality prompted a few snickers from industry players.

“Generally speaking, the union movement and the left of politics hate asbestos companies – and their lawyers,’’ one told us.

“The ALP federally don’t hesitate to remind Julie Bishop of her former life as a lawyer who defended CSR in asbestos claims litigation.’’

So look who Doyles has anointed in its admittedly subjective annual contest. “Oh the irony!’’ our industry contact quipped.