Residents thank new management as much loved The Big Mushroom gets total makeover for reopening
A Queensland business that was a go-to destination for decades has been snapped up and will be rejuvenated by new management keen to restore it to its former family-friendly glory. SEE THE PLANS.
Redlands Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Redlands Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
New life has been breathed into a fruit and vegetable shop that was heralded as an institution before its surprise closure.
Sprawling retirement village with near 200 dwellings in works 5 minutes from Cleveland CBD
ALDI renovation confirmed for Alexandra Hills on back of suburb growth
Cleveland CBD suffers more loss with Coffee Club closure as lease signs flourish
The finishing touches are being put on the revamped The Big Mushroom on Shore St in Cleveland.
A landmark shop for decades in the Redlands it closed some months ago to the dismay of many local shoppers used to popping in on the way home or after the school run.
Now under new management business partners and co-owners Walid Hijazi and Rob Maaman have taken on the challenge of restoring the much loved store.
Amid a flurry of activity for a planned August 16 grand opening, Mr Hijazi said the opportunity was too good to miss.
“Being in the fruit industry we had heard of it before and when it came up for lease we just jumped on it for the fact that it is an institution in the Redlands,” he said.
“We’ve got people coming in all the time thanking us for opening it up and explaining how they have missed it.
“So it has all been positive and it is good to see that.”
A southside local Mr Hijazi was keen to preserve the friendly atmosphere the business was popular for.
“I have noticed there is a huge community feel and people like to support one another in the Redlands,” he said.
“We are from the southside and it is a bit more cutthroat there but here we want customers to know who we are and look forward to interacting with them and give them the fruit barn feel that they are expecting.”
In addition to a ground up restoration The Big Mushroom plans to offer barista coffee from a food truck facility and promised “top quality produce with crazy prices”.
“We will have a great range of groceries and always be full,” Mr Hijazi said.
Shoppers can look forward to a range of specials to celebrate the business’ reopening.