Coppa, Fatcow, Naga gone: Mass closure of Eagle St Pier icons
All but one of Eagle St Pier’s tenants will close permanently this weekend including big-name restaurants Fatcow, Sake, Naga Thai, Coppa and Rico – with the riverside precinct set to be demolished.
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Brisbane institution Eagle Street Pier will farewell all but one of its tenants this weekend, with the riverside precinct set to be demolished after more than 30 years.
The CBD site will be torn down to make way for a $2.1bn premium business and leisure destination, with all current tenants given until July 25 to vacate the premises by landlord and redeveloper Dexus.
Most venues will permanently shut this weekend, with popular restaurants Coppa, Fatcow Steak and Lobster, Sake, City Winery and Naga Thai completing their last service on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Rico Bar & Dining, The Bavarian, Mr and Mrs G and The Coffee Club will all close for the final time on Sunday.
Having worked at the Pier’s now defunct Cha Cha Char and Il Centro since 2007, before buying Mr and Mrs G last year where he had tied the knot, Chris Higgins said Sunday would be a sad day.
“It’s a bit sad that the bar where we got married is no longer going to be here, and my second generation are working on the pier as well,” Mr Higgins said.
“It’s been a great experience for me and I’ve probably been on the pier longer than anyone.”
Mr Higgins, along with business partner Liam McMahon and celebrity chef Adrian Richardson, will now focus on opening new restaurant, bar and function space BOS on the City’s Queen St, which promises to be one of the most anticipated culinary openings of the year, set for unveiling in October.
Meanwhile, co-owner of Eagle Street Pier Italian restaurant Coppa Tom Sanceau was also devastated about leaving the prime piece of real estate.
“I’m going to miss this beautiful view every morning,” he said, revealing he was also looking at a site nearby to create another restaurant, as well as possible opportunities in London.
Naga Thai owner Andrew Baturo said it was “disappointing” to have to close his restaurant as it was hitting its straps, but hoped to be part of the new development on the site with a fresh concept, while moving Naga to an alternate space most likely next year.
“Naga was just getting on a roll, and obviously coming out of Covid and getting on after the floods it would have been nice to get another Christmas at least,” he said.
“But I think what Brisbane needs is a fantastic new entertainment precinct and I think this is going to be world class when it’s finished.”
The Kookaburra Queen, Guzman y Gomez, Grill’d and George’s Paragon have already closed at Eagle Street Pier, with Eat Sushi closing this Friday.
However, popular nightspot Jade Buddha and its bar Shadow Lounge will continue to operate, with a date not finalised for their closure.
The transformation of the riverfront hotspot will include two 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.
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