Two high profile restaurants yet to open after COVID-19 hit
Two high-profile restaurants remain closed in Townsville after shutting when the COVID-19 pandemic radically restricted their trade and operations in mid-March.
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Two high-profile restaurants remain closed in Townsville after shutting when the COVID-19 pandemic radically restricted their trade and operations in mid-March.
The Pier Restaurant business on the Breakwater Marina is for sale, while the Hog’s Breath Cafe in Townsville Central (inset) says that the restaurant is closed “until further notice”.
The Pier Restaurant — overlooking the city’s marina, Castle Hill and Magnetic Island — is for sale for $105,000 and includes at least $20,000 worth of beer, wines, spirits and stock.
The restaurant was bought by the Charles family five years ago, but due to “unforeseen circumstances” it has been placed on the market.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to close The Pier temporarily while we find our feet in this ever-changing environment,” the Charles family wrote in a Facebook post.
“Our family has put a lot of love into this restaurant over the last four and a half years and it has been wonderful to be part of such an incredible food industry in Townsville.”
The family planned on reopening the restaurant in June as restrictions were eased but it remained closed as “it is just not viable for our business”.
The restaurant remains closed and the website deactivated.
The Facebook site of the Hog’s Breath Cafe in Townsville Central says it closed for dining on March 23 and for takeaway and delivery on March 30.
“Unfortunately at this time we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close our other services — takeaway and delivery, as of today, Monday 30th March,” the post says.
“At this stage, we don’t know for how long and will keep you updated as we know more from the government. Please stay safe and healthy and support local businesses where you can.”
A director of the Hog’s Breath Cafe business, Scott Peatey, said he was not at liberty to comment on their plans but added that they were “nearly there”.
Hog’s Townsville Cannon Park has traded through the different levels of restrictions applied through the pandemic with the help of the federal government’s JobKeeper package.
The business is doing deliveries and takeaways but franchisee Ben Harrison said the restaurant was still restricted to less than half its capacity under the current 4 sqm rule.
Mr Harrison said the restrictions on trade made it difficult for businesses like the cafe when they still faced the same level of costs for items such as rent.
Originally published as Two high profile restaurants yet to open after COVID-19 hit