‘It’s sad but it’s the end’: A Sunshine Coast cafe owner sells up after 17 years

After 17 years of befriending staff, skateboarders and the homeless, the owner of a beachside cafe is walking away. WATCH THE EMOTIONAL FAREWELL VIDEO

The owner of a Sunshine Coast beachside cafe has sold his business after nearly 17 years in part due to fears he couldn’t recover from the pandemic.

“It’s sad, but it’s the end,” Ian Masterman said.

Mr Masterman, 59, has been the owner of The Attic Cafe on 168 Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland since September 15, 2005.

The cafe sold for an undisclosed amount this month and will hand over to its new owners on August 1.

Mr Masterman has worked in the kitchen nearly every day since opening and said he sold his business because he was nearing retirement and overheads like food were getting expensive as he continued to struggle to recover from Covid-19.

He said the cafe suffered from lockdowns and was particularly stung after December 17, last year when a vaccine mandate rolled out, allowing only fully-vaccinated customers to enter his doors.

“That just absolutely killed us,” he said.

Mr Masterman said he wished to walk away now before he fell into debt if restrictions returned, or the hospitality industry became too challenging.

Glancing at his legacy, he said the cafe, sitting opposite the Alexandra Headland Skatepark, was known for befriending staff, customers, the homeless and young skaters who injured themselves.

“We’ve had a lot of fantastic people over the years,” he said.

“We’ve got people who were coming here for 17 years … skate kids who were coming in are now coming in with their kids.”

Mr Masterman said his staff were “one big family” and his cafe had been renowned for throwing creative parties.

He said he once filled his cafe with sand and put a volleyball net inside.

“It was fun,” he said.

While he would miss his cafe, Mr Masterman said he was excited to change his lifestyle, travel and become a freelance chef for cafes and restaurants struggling to find staff.

“Take it a little bit easier in life and enjoy it,” he said of his future plans.