Josh Bereshezckiy takes over as owner of Alchemy Southside restaurant

A former bank manager has spent almost $80,000 to bring a once popular Gympie venue back to life following its controversy-riddled closure

Josh Bereshezckiy has taken over as new owner of Alchemy Southside restaurant which shut amid controversy last year.

Once troubled Southside restaurant Alchemy has been given a new lease of life thanks to an almost $80,000 investment by its new owner, a former bank manager.

New owner Josh Bereshezckiy threw the doors of the venue open last week following a four month fight to move it away from its troubled past.

The business was shut by the previous owners in November 2020 under a cloud of controversy.

Former employees were reportedly owed thousands of dollars when it closed and the owners’ second venture, the Jungle Bar at Buderim, then also closed three months later under similar circumstances.

Mr Bereshezckiy took over the Southside business one month after it closed but “then there was a saga”.

Josh Bereshezckiy and chef Ralph Emmanuel Cauagdan reopened the business last week.

“There was the liquor licence, some of the equipment was under rental, unpaid bills, everything like that,” he said.

“We’ve done a massive renovation, put a green wall in the place, we’ve tiled it, we’ve redone the whole kitchen from start to finish … the list goes on … but it needed it.”

He said the total investment in putting Alchemy back on the map approached $80,000.

Although born in Hervey Bay he was brought to Gympie from the Northern Territory nine months ago by the ANZ Bank – but it was not solely a career choice.

“The main reason I moved to Gympie was to be closer to family,” Mr Bereshezckiy said.

Alchemy Southside was shut without notice in November last year amid claims employees were owed thousands of dollars.

He then stepped into another roll before the opportunity to take over Alchemy presented itself.

“First restaurant, fourth business altogether,” he said.

“I’ve had a pizzeria, two coffee vans, a cafe, and I’ve also got a taco truck at the moment.”

There were plans to open a wood-fired pizzeria in the Northern Territory, but a split with his partner scuttled that.

“(We) separated so we sold it before we opened.

“Just before COVID so we were so lucky.

“We wanted to invest in the place for a reason.

“It’s got a great location.”

CLICK HERE to return to The Gympie Times home page