Do Drop In Deli opens at commemoration site for Alexandra Hills couple killed in January

Locals have been heartened by the opening of a corner store and cafe, after it closed following the senseless deaths of a beloved couple and their unborn child.

A bayside corner store that has become a site of commemoration for a young couple killed while out walking, has received a rousing reception with its opening as a community comes to terms with a far felt tragedy.

Do Drop In Deli (DDID) at the corner of Finucane and Allendby roads in Alexandra Hills was under renovation when local couple Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field were struck and killed by a truck allegedly crashed into by a teen-driven stolen 4WD on January 26.

With Kate six months pregnant at the time, their unborn son Miles also died.

A dedicated commemorative installation is in the works at the corner of Finucane and Allenby roads in Alexandra Hills. Picture: Marcel Baum

Directly across the road from where the horrific event occurred the corner store became an impromptu site where hundreds poured their grief into at the senseless tragedy.

A power pole out the front of the building overflowed with flowers, stuffed toys and letters of lament for months, with parcels appearing to this day.

Redlands business woman Maria Mu was renovating the premises – colloquially known as the Red Shop for years – at the time of the crash and witnessed much of it.

Maria Mu is pleased with the reception she received with the opening of Do Drop in Deli in Alexandra Hills. Picture: Marcel Baum

‘It was really sad, I was horrified,” Ms Mu said.

“I had to move out when it happened and came back two or three months later to complete the project.

“It is just so sad.”

Having opened some six weeks ago, the new business is daily being discovered by locals and fetching rave reviews.

“I have a lot of support,” Ms Mu said.

“Residents are thankful that we continued with the business and have thanked me for coming back.

“The area does need a convenience store here.

“And the community is awesome, they come in all ages and the young ones are just so good.”

Commemoration of the lives lost at the corner of Finucane and Allenby roads in Alexandra Hills continues with the opening of adjacent Do Drop In Deli. Picture: Marcel Baum

Ms Mu said she is currently in talks with Redland City Council regarding a more permanent commemoration instalment at the site.

The business owner, who runs a namesake venture on Bloomfield St in Cleveland, had barely a moment to herself this week as a steady stream of customers dropped in.

John Biffin had a day off from his public transport job and visited the store in its new guise for the first time.

A local for the past 20 years he was pleased to see the site’s commemoration aspect persist and vouched for Ms Mu’s coffee.

Arlene and Gerard Corbett visit Maria Mu at her newly opened Do Drop in Deli in Alexandra Hills. Picture: Marcel Baum

“It is convenient, it is nice to have something not too far from home,” he said.

“You can come and get the bread and milk and now you can get a feed which is handy.

“And the coffee is good, so that’s a bonus.”

Arlene and Gerard Corbett drove all the way from Redland Bay to visit Ms Mu, who is an old acquaintance.

Familiar with her Cleveland business, they were delighted to hear she had set up shop at the poignant location.

“We ended up here because of Maria,” a teary Ms Corbett said.

“I have a sixth sense and when I came out of the car I thought, ‘how beautiful to have the store open here’.

“Because most people would just get rid of the flowers but it is all meant to be (in regards to it staying a spot for commemoration).”

A Redland City Council notice attached to the power poll thanks mourners for their donations and states flowers from the site have been mulched with permission of the Leadbetter and Field families.

According to council, the material will be used in a dedicated commemorative installation currently in the works.