Developer Craig Morrison and Good Bean Franchising CEO Shane Hepburn to open Pavilion Mooloolaba

Two high-profile businessmen have joined forces to unveil a million-dollar beachfront venue that has brought a slice of the Mediterranean to the Coast, with some surprise plans in the works.

Two high-profile businessmen who have joined forces to create an “iconic” beachfront venue described as being unlike anything on the Coast will soon reveal a major rooftop expansion.

After two years of planning developer and real estate director Craig Morrison and Good Bean Franchising CEO Shane Hepburn will this Friday open their Mediterranean-inspired bar and restaurant, Pavilion Mooloolaba.

Located along the Mooloolaba Esplanade the building that once housed Oneup Bar has undergone a major makeover to create a relaxing space for the venue with sweeping views of the Mooloolaba coastline.

The business savvy pair said the restaurant was designed to make customers feel like they were on holidays.

“People can’t travel anymore so we wanted to bring a bit of the Mediterranean to the Coast so that’s where you’ll see it in our menu, our finishes, the way our staff dress and our manager is from Turkey and our head chef is from Italy,” Mr Hepburn said.

“We have brought the Mediterranean to the people.”

Pavilion Mooloolaba hopes to provided the perfect place to celebrate, to sip and to share. Picture: Supplied.

The venue already had 1800 bookings and was fully booked for the next month.

The business partners said it was rewarding to share the business achievement with a like-minded person.

“Our biggest problem at the moment is everyone wants to come here, but we can’t get them all in, so it’s a good problem to have,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison and Mr Hepburn described the location as a once-in-a-generation opportunity and felt lucky to have been able to buy the building during the Covid-19 pandemic.

They said owning the building gave them the opportunity to start a million-dollar rooftop expansion.

Mr Morrison said Pavilion Mooloolaba was their chance to make an atmosphere like no other on the Sunshine Coast.

“This is iconic as it is but if we can pull the rooftop off any person that comes to the Sunshine Coast has to come here to Mooloolaba,” he said.

“We want to get locals who go to Noosa every weekend coming into Mooloolaba.

“We want to do something that is iconic, that is memorable and makes a difference long term.”

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the venue is similar in name to the popular Burleigh Pavilion on the Gold Coast.

Developer and real estate director Craig Morrison and Good Bean Franchising CEO Shane Hepburn have joined forces to open their new Mediterranean inspired bar and restaurant, Pavilion Mooloolaba. Picture: Laura Pettigrew.

Mr Hepburn said being lifelong locals they knew how to make the venue stand out.

“We can draw ideas, but we know what fits the Sunshine Coast and we think ours is a little bit better than theirs so maybe they can get ideas off us,” he said.

Pavilion Mooloolaba officially opens on September 17.

DJ’s and saxophonist will be live from 5pm.