Award-winning Mitchelton butcher McKenzie Quality Meats announces closure

A northside butcher who trudged through 16-hour work days has announced he can no longer go on, leaving the community devastated by his shock announcement.

Owner of McKenzie Quality Meats, Douglas McKenzie, has announced his Mitchelton store will be closed until further notice due to staff shortages. Picture: Facebook.

A northside butcher has announced he will close one of his stores after the stress of working more than 16-hours-a-day, splitting himself between store locations some 40km apart, became too much.

Owner of McKenzie Quality Meats in Mitchelton, Douglas McKenzie, posted on Facebook announcing the sudden closure.

“It is with a heavy heart that we have made the decision to close our Mitchelton store until further notice,” Mr McKenzie posted on Facebook.

“Unfortunately as many of you are aware I have been working around the clock trying to run both stores seven days per week up to 16 hours per day.

“Obviously this couldn't continue and due to the lease overlap of the two locations I am forced to close here at Mitchelton and run the one store despite our goal being to operate solely from Mitchelton.”

Douglas McKenzie and Brendan Turnbull of Ipswich Quality Meats.

Mr McKenzie said due to staff shortages he could no longer operate both stores.

“Unfortunately we are stuck,” he said.

“We recently had a staff member leave without notice and another leave due to an injury.

“Mentally I just couldn’t handle the two locations with the staff setbacks we had.

“I’ve been getting up at 2am, driving to Mitchelton, cutting all the day’s meat, then heading back across to Ipswich cutting all the meat there, then jumping in the truck and running all the deliveries on my own.

“One shop had to go immediately as I was at breaking point and with the Ipswich store being in a shopping centre with a much longer lease term, our hands were tied.”

Owner of McKenzie Quality Meats, Douglas McKenzie, has announced his Mitchelton store will be closed until further notice due to staff shortages. Picture: Facebook.

Mr McKenzie said he did not take the decision to close lightly.

“We are devastated it has come to this.,” Mr McKenzie said.

“Lots of blood, sweat and tears to get the store to this point.”

Many loyal customers of the butcher have been left shocked by the news, flocking to social media to share their sadness.

“That is a shame Doug, Sunday BBQs won't be the same,” Mark Massy commented on Facebook.

“This is such sad news,” Paola Milani said.

“I hope that you will one day be able to come back to Mitchelton, we will miss you.”

Owner of McKenzie Quality Meats, Douglas McKenzie, has announced his Mitchelton store will be closed until further notice due to staff shortages. Picture: Facebook.

Mr McKenzie said he hoped to one day reopen the Mitchelton store for his beloved customers.

“Mitchelton has been amazing,” he said.

“Customers were so supportive and friendly.

Ipswich Quality Meats will continue to operate as per normal.

“Fingers crossed (it’s) just a hurdle as our goal was to fully establish in Mitchelton.

“We hope to be back in the not so distant future.”

Mr McKenzie’s butcher in Ipswich, Ipswich Quality Meats, which took out first place in 2020 when it was voted Ipswich’s Best Butcher by Queensland Times readers, will continue to operate as per normal.