Porters welcomes longest customers to say goodbye to Charlie’s Cafe, Brisbane St store

An almost 96-year-old woman celebrated her birthday early at her favourite store as the Porter family said goodbye to their Brisbane St home. GALLERY.

Charlie’s Cafe has been the gathering spot for Mackay community groups for decades — and on Monday afternoon it held the last hurrah for the Porters’ historic home.

The Porters Mitre 10 location on Brisbane St has stood strong since 1930 and traded as a retail store since the 1980s.

Now, it’s set for its last day of trade on Friday, February 22.

Speaking at the event, Gavan Porter Snr told the family’s history in Mackay, starting with Scotsman Charles Porter arriving as a building contractor in 1883 to build the Empress of India Hotel, now the site of Taylor’s Hotel.

Porters throw final party at historic home

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Charlie’s Cafe was born in 1988, becoming a central part of the Porters’ business for generations.

“Saying farewell to a site the company has occupied for decades is a big step, but Mackay has evolved so much in recent years that we as a business need to evolve and change with it,” Gavan Porter Snr said in a speech on the day.

Now, the location will be sold for redevelopment as Porters shifts focus back to its trade supply roots.

Marcella Clancy, Joshua Clancy and Angelina Barracano at Porters. Picture:Michaela Harlow

Angelina Barracono celebrated her 96th birthday a little early so that she could spend it at Charlie’s Cafe while the Porters said goodbye to their business.

She said she was very happy to celebrate there before it closed.

Paul Porter called it a “strange feeling” to be moving out of Brisbane St.

“It’s exciting to see all your old customers, but it’s also a sad and emotional day.”

As for whether a new cafe, in a new form, might be born in their new, Paget location, Paul Porter said you can “never say no”, but it’s not on the horizon.