Popular cliff-top cafe gets makeover after controversial closure
A popular cafe with stunning views of the city remains a construction site six months after the Brisbane City Council told the former owner to pack up. But the new operator is promising an exciting new venue at the iconic spot soon.
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A new restaurant serving modern Australian cuisine is set to open up on the iconic Kangaroo Point cliffs six months after the controversial decision by Brisbane City Council to boot out the former operator.
The Spritz cafe on the Kangaroo Point cliffs was a meeting spot for local identities including former Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson, Jeff Horn and taxi tycoon Neil Ford who enjoyed the stunning views of the city.
But the Virzi family, which had run the cafe through their company G and G Group since 2017, lost the tender to operate the River Terrace site to Fortitude Valley-based Bellissimo Coffee in February.
When the Courier-Mail visited the site last week, tradespeople were still busy on a fit out in preparation for Bellissimo to move in. Bellissimo director Mark Bignell said the new 120-seat restaurant to be called Joey’s would serve modern Australia cuisine along with wood-fired pizza.
Mr Bignell said the extensive fit out would give the popular spot a fresher look when it reopened its doors sometime next month. He said there had been some delays while government approvals were sought and builders for the fit out were organised.
A Virzi family spokesman said this week that while they remain frustrated at their treatment by the council and concerned about the future of their more than 30 staff, they may have “dodged a bullet” given the coronavirus shutdown occurred just after they vacated the cafe. “We wish the new operator luck, but it is going to be very tough at the moment,” the spokesman said.
The council’s decision not to award the tender to Cafe Spritz surprised the Virzi family who had boosted sales by 39 per cent from the previous operator, invested about $70,000 in new equipment and offered a full menu with table service.
The family, who have operated restaurants in Brisbane for the past 40 years, had employed a professional tender writer to make its submission to council and were told it was unusual for a well-run business already operating to lose a tender.
A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said the council received seven submissions to operate the cafe and the recommended operator was Bellissimo Coffee.
Mr Bignell said the tender had been competitive. Bellissimo had the advantage of having a centralised kitchen at Coorparoo which could service the Kangaroo Points eatery, which only had a small food preparation area.
Explaining the delay in opening the new cafe, a council spokesperson said Bellisimo had required consent from the State Government before entering into the lease, and once this was granted the lease was able to commence on May 1.
“Before the previous lease expired in February 2020, the site was handed back to council to undertake maintenance works, including upgrades to the building and seating area and installing new custom made bi-fold doors,” the spokesperson said. The council said Bellissimo Coffee was paying for the fitout.
“We appreciate how challenging opening a new business in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic must be, and are looking forward to this local businesses opening soon for residents and visitors to Brisbane to enjoy,” the spokesperson said.
