Iconic Brisbane dining precinct Eagle Street Pier announces closing date
Retailers at Brisbane’s renowned dining precinct have been given a final date to vacate, with the iconic destination set to close after more than 30 years.
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July 25 will officially mark the end of an era for Brisbane, with the city’s Eagle Street Pier precinct set to close for good after more than 30 years.
Developer Dexus has asked all tenants to vacate by the date to make way for a $2.1bn transformation of the pier and neighbouring Waterfront Place into a premium business and leisure destination.
Leaving the renowned culinary mecca will be some of Brisbane’s most popular restaurants, including George’s Paragon, Mr & Mrs G Riverbar, Coppa Spuntino, Fatcow Steak & Lobster, Naga Thai, Jade Buddha Bar & Kitchen, Rico Bar and Dining, Sake and The Bavarian.
“It is sad for the retailers because we all like to have a joke and we’ve been a family for so long,” centre manager Kelly Ferguson said. “But at the end of the day, a lot of them are going to new venues, some of them are actually staying with Dexus, and others we’ve developed a great relationship with, so hopefully they can be part of the Dexus family again.”
Chris Higgins has been working at the Pier since 2007 at the likes of Cha Cha Char and Il Centro, before buying Mr & Mrs G Riverbar at the precinct 18 months ago with business partner Liam McMahon.
“It’s a bit surreal I guess because there have been so many false starts and now it actually is happening. We thought we might have another year,” Mr Higgins said.
The restaurateur said he would miss the “camaraderie” of the foodie hub the most when he left next month.
“We all work so closely together here. We’ve been industry mates for such a long time. That’s what I’m going to miss, not the view. I’m going to miss the hospitality mateship and the camaraderie,” he said.
To celebrate the final days of the complex, which first opened in 1989 with The Coffee Club among its original retailers, Dexus will host the Eagle Street Pier Mumm Champagne Toasting Bar every Thursday to Saturday from June 9-25.
Outside Coppa Spuntino, the pop-up bar and eatery will feature snacks from Coppa and Mumm Champagne, alongside Gerler wines from neighbouring tenant City Winery. There will also be roving entertainment and fireworks every Friday night.
“For 30 years, it’s been iconic and that’s why we’re trying to get everyone to come back and enjoy the restaurants and celebrate with us and more importantly come out and celebrate at one of your favourite restaurants again,” Ms Ferguson said.
Demolition of the site is expected to commence shortly, with construction of the new Waterfront Brisbane project to take five years. It will include two new towers, an expanded retail and dining offering, 9000sq m of riverside public open space, and a 280m riverwalk, with the first tower expected to be completed in 2027.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR FATCOW, RICO AND GEORGE’S PARAGON
They say when one door closes another opens, and that could not be more true for restaurateurMichael Tassis.
As he prepares to say goodbye to his popular Eagle Street Pier venues Fatcow Steak & Lobster, Rico and George’s Paragon to make way for the new Waterfront Brisbane, he is set to unveil a handful of new venues.
Tassis and his family will launch a new George’s Paragon along Marine Pde at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast next week, following the same successful seafood formula as its Brisbane City and Sanctuary Cove models. He is also looking to find a replacement site in Brisbane for the pumping restaurant.
The next fortnight will also see him reopen his popular Greek eatery, Opa, along the Brisbane River, which was destroyed in February’s freak flooding. Forced to replace about 90 per cent of the slick Mediterranean fit-out, the venue will reopen with a fresh breakfast offering, alongside its much-loved lunch and dinner service. Tassis said to expect classic English brekky faves, alongside traditional Greek morning meals. Just a few doors down, his Italian restaurant Massimo, which was also destroyed by the floods, is scheduled to open in about six weeks, boasting a fresh look and revised menu with more seafood and sharing plates. Though the bottomless lunches Friday to Sunday will remain.
Also scheduled to open at the same time for Tassis will be a second Greek eatery, Yamas, in West End’s thriving West Village precinct. Expect share plate like lamb kleftiko and chargrilled lobster live from the tank.
Tassis is also on the hunt for a new space for Fatcow, with a spot not far from Eagle Street Pier under consideration, while Rico is most likely to reopen next year in a fresh location after a few tweaks to the concept.
WHERE TO FOR NAGA THAI
Glamorous Eagle Street Pier Thai restaurant Naga will move to a new home after it closes at the end of next month for the site to be redeveloped.
Owner Andrew Baturo said he was in talks about securing a similar location on the river with outdoor space for the eatery, which opened in October 2020, but it “might not happen until maybe next year”.
“What started as a three-year pop-up concept has turned into something I’m really proud of and the team’s really proud of and something I think Brisbane is really proud of so I really want to do it justice the next time around,” he said.
As he continues his search for the best spot for the concept, Baturo will reopen his popular Italian restaurant Popolo across the river at South Bank after it closed in February for renovations.
The venue will launch on June 13, complete with a new lighter, brighter Riviera vibe, and a focus on more authentic, traditional Italian fare, across its range of pizzas, pastas and share plates.
There will also be a new cocktail menu, plus more Italian varietals on the wine list to pair with the food, creating a more “holistic Italian experience” for diners.
Baturo will also be busy working on his dining and entertainment concepts at Brisbane’s prestigious Naldham House in the CBD, which he will run with hospitality group DAP & CO.
The transformation of the heritage site is predicted to open in the first or second quarter of next year.
FUTURE PLANS FOR COPPA SPUNTINO
The future of Eagle Street Pier Italian Coppa Spuntino remains unknown after it was given until July 25 to vacate for the new Waterfront Brisbane development.
Co-owner Tom Sanceau said he had hoped to find another city location to move the restaurant into, but had not been able to find the right spot.
“Having a restaurant like this with this view is just unbelievable and I’ve got some incredible staff, so it’s going to be gut-wrenching to lose them, that’s going to be the hard part,” he said.
However, the restaurateur revealed he and business partner Bonnie Shearston were workshopping new ideas for a nearby tenancy.
“We’ve got a few concepts, so it depends on the venue and the location,” he said, reluctant to elaborate.
Although he would confirm that the dining duo were looking to open a second outlet of their successful New York street food-inspired operation Red Hook, which currently resides in Creek St in Brisbane’s CBD.
They also had a possible London venture on the cards.
“We’re focusing on lots of opportunities and we just want to enjoy things,” he said.
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