Smoooth Juice, South Rockhampton, fire damaged building demolished

Once home to a popular Chinese takeaway and then Miss India, the site has now been cleared after a suspicious fire in March. Here’s the latest.

The site on the corner of Cambridge and George Sts was home to many restaurants and has now been cleared after a suspicious fire destroyed the building in March 2023.

Once the home of Smoooth Juice (southside), Miss India and Leong‘s Chinese, the highway corner block at 33 Cambridge St is now a vacant strip of land.

The building, across from the Rockhampton Leagues Club and owned by the club, was struck by fire on March 12.

Police at the time declared it to be suspicious with initial investigations indicating it was deliberately lit.

A fire was reported at Smoooth Juice Cafe on George Street, Rockhampton, on March 12, 2023. Picture: Pamela McKay

Smoke damage on the outside of the building. Picture: Pamela McKay

In an update requested this week, police advised investigations are still ongoing and no charges have been laid at this time.

Two weeks after the fire, the northside Smoooth Juice store closed and the company went into liquidation the day after.

Initial liquidation reports by Michael Beck of Worrells Insolvency and Forensics Accountants CQ have compiled the company owes $72,000 to creditors and employees.

The Rockhampton Leagues Club bought the site in a multi-sale in 2001 for $1.95 million, with other properties on Murray, Campbell, George and Cambridge Streets.

There were previously three highset homes to the side of the building, stretched to the laneway, however they were removed between 2008 and 2010 and the land has been vacant since.

The three homes were removed between 2008 and 2010 next to the former Smoooth Juice site.

The homes next to the site on Google Maps in 2008.

The building once had a very popular Chinese restaurant, Leongs, and then was tenanted by Miss India from 2012 to 2021, who moved further up the road to the One Eleven George complex, across from McDonalds.

Leong's Chinese, a popular takeaway, pictured in 2010.

Miss India in 2017 at the Cambridge St site.

Smoooth Juice expanded to a store on the southside after the success of their northside store which had opened in October 2020.

They opened the Cambridge St site in July 2022 and it had been closed for a few weeks at the time of the fire, for reported repairs after an electrical surge.

The fire left the building destroyed with obvious smoke marks from the outside.

The site on Cambridge St, owned by The Rockhampton Leagues Club, is expected to remain vacant.

Demolition work was undertaken in the last week, with the entire footprint of the building now removed.

It is understood the leagues club is owed outstanding rent in the Smoooth Juice liquidation and is now also out of pocket after paying for the demolition.

The club advised it does not have future plans for the site and it may remain vacant for the time being.