Bribie Island butcher Avondale Meats closes Bongaree store over rent rises

A popular island butcher has been forced to close one of his stores after paying what he has labelled an “astronomical” amount of rent over the past decade – $1m in just the past four years.

A popular Bribie Island butcher has been forced to close one of his stores after the “astronomical” amount of rent he paid over the years. Picture: Avondale Meats.

The owner of a Bribie Island butcher has been forced to close after paying nearly $1m over fours years for the lease.

Avondale Meats at the Bribie Island Shopping Centre in Bongaree closed on February 18 after almost four years on the island.

Owner Greg Doyle said he was given the option to renew the lease but decided not to.

“The rent that I was paying there was astronomical,” Mr Doyle said.

“I was writing a cheque for $19,500 a month.

Avondale Meats owner Greg Doyle. Picture: Avondale Meats.

“I paid them nearly a million dollars of rent in four years and I’m just thinking I don’t have a million dollars.

“The rent’s doubled by the time I finished the 10-year lease.

“So my lease was up and I wasn’t going to sign a new lease with them, that was the bottom line.”

Avondale meats at Bongaree closed on February 18. Picture: Avondale Meats.

Mr Doyle owns another store on the Island at Bribie Harbour Shopping Village in Banksia Beach, which has been running for more than 18 months.

He said he had no doubt his customers would follow him there.

“That was a good looking shop at Bongaree, but the shop here (at Banksia) is way better looking,” he said.

Lamb from Avondale meats. Picture: Avondale Meats.

“I’ll inherit 60 to 70 per cent of my customers, maybe more.

“The shop out here is a beautiful shop.

“I’m a builder by trade too, so I build flash things.”

Meat Platter from Avondale meats. Picture: Avondale Meats.

Mr Doyle said Avondale Meats at Banksia Beach had a bright future ahead.

“We’re expanding out here, so we’ll open up the other side as well and have a front and back entrance,” he said.

He said his customers would continue to be loyal for his good quality product.

“They can’t get my meat anywhere else,” he said.

“I do sell good meat and that’s the secret to the whole thing.”