Caffeine hit: Cafe loses landmark lease after nine years to make way for charity

The owner of a cafe with one of the best views in Brisbane will say goodbye to his business on Friday after the lease for his space on the Goodwill Bridge was awarded to a charity.

The owner of a beloved Brisbane cafe to close on Friday is heartbroken that he lost out in a lease renewal for his renowned riverside location.

The State Government is yet to reveal the charity which has been awarded the tender to operate a kiosk on the Goodwill Bridge.

Local social enterprise were called to tender for the space which the Queensland Government Accommodation Office touted as a fantastic opportunity to deliver social outcomes to the community.

Brendan’s Cafe on the Goodwill Bridge owner Brendan Harris said he was devastated to say goodbye to about 1500 returning customers, hundreds of which he knows the coffee orders for.

Brendan Harris is devastated that his Cafe on the Goodwill Bridge will close on Friday after losing his lease. Picture: Liam Kidston

He said it was bittersweet reflecting on nine years of watching the sun rise in the middle of the Brisbane River as his close-knit team served coffee on an iconic silver platter.

Mr Harris said he was first asked to submit a new tender for his spot on the bridge about three years ago.

“Even then there was talk that they wanted it to go to a social enterprise and become a cafe that gave back to the community,” he said.

“So it seems like they don’t see what we have done in nine years as community-related which is unfortunate.

“The last two years, as anyone in hospitality can attest to, has been nothing but community-based because we sure didn’t make any money out of it.”

Mr Harris was notified in mid-November that his lease was not being renewed and the tender had been granted to a not-for-profit organisation.

He said it was a rough blow after battling through the pandemic.

“They gave us three months’ notice over the Christmas period, as we’re coming out of Covid-19 and just getting back on our feet,” Mr Harris said.

“ … it is heartbreaking.”

The kiosk takes up only 20 square metres but offers sweeping river and CBD vistas, as well as exposure to an average of about 15,000 passers-by a day.

The Queensland Government Accommodation Office in early 2020 called for tenders from social enterprises only to enter into a trustee lease for the space.

“To align with the Queensland Government Procurement Policy, this contract will provide a fantastic opportunity for the successful local Social Enterprise to deliver social outcomes to the community,” the tender overview stated.

Mr Harris confirmed he had submitted a proposal in a bid to continue his business from the landmark location.

Brendan’s Cafe at the Goodwill Bridge will shut on Friday. Picture: Attila Csaszar

A Department of Energy and Public Works spokesman said a lease was currently being finalised with “a social enterprise that’s a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, and which provides award-based wages and pathways to mainstream employment for disadvantaged Queenslanders, to run a food and beverage service on the bridge”.

“The coffee cart is a way for the successful tenderer to both earn an income and assist the people it is helping through teaching them new skills,” the spokesman said.

To be eligible for the lease, the organisation had to show a proven record in social outcomes and be a member of the Queensland Social Enterprise Council.

Earnings from the Goodwill Bridge coffee cart will be used to extend the work of the organisation to help disadvantaged Queenslanders.

The spokesman said the lease would assist the not-for-profit to become more self-sustaining.

Friends and customers of Brendan’s Cafe are flying from as far as Tasmania to celebrate its success in a sunset soiree planned for Thursday afternoon.

Mr Harris will have a final shot at memorising the orders of loyal pedestrians and cyclists on Friday morning when he serves coffee for the last time in the middle of the river.

The qualified chef is already brewing up new ideas for his next venture, and he expects it won’t be far from his labour of love on the Goodwill Bridge.