Popular family Thai restaurant takes menu out to suburbs

One of the city’s most popular family owned Thai restaurants has expanded to ensure more locals get a taste of their mouth-watering feeds.

One of the city’s popular family owned Thai restaurant businesses has expanded to Kirwan.

Summer Soul, sister restaurant to Summerie’s Thai Cuisine in Idalia, has opened in Cannon Park near Fasta Pasta and Crust Pizza.

The business is operated by Summer Podee and Bloye Sonjes and Din and Pang Podee.

It has operated in Townsville for 11 years, initially in Flinders Street East before expanding to The Precinct.

The Flinders Street East shop was closed last year, partly because of the impact of Covid-19 but also because of a decision to focus on providing takeaway food.

Bloye said many of their customers in Idalia were driving to the shop from Kirwan so they looked to expansion in the suburb.

He said the decision to close in the city opened the opportunity for the store in Kirwan and also to service mainly the takeaway market.

“We decided to go this way because we have had a massive problem with finding staff in the last two years to keep the restaurant open,” Bloye said.

“Because we have been around for 11 years I’m pretty confident in our product. Idalia is doing very, very well. I don’t think we have seen much impact from Covid.

“At Cannon Park we are getting better trade every week but slowly. We are starting to see returning customers more and more. I think that’s a good sign.”

Colliers commercial and industrial agent Shaun McLaren said Summer Soul provided a great offering of Thai food which would now be more accessible to people in the western suburbs.

“This is a great outcome for Cannon Park. The space that Bloye took was a former restaurant tenancy so it had a great fit-out, it was set up ready to go and there is heaps of customer parking at Cannon Park so it was an ideal lease,” Mr McLaren said.

The business has taken a six-year lease on a restaurant space with a net lettable area of 130sq m and with an option to extend the lease for a further five years.

MARINE BIOLOGIST NATALIE GIOFRE FINDS SUCCESS IN SMALL BUSINESS

The world of small business looks to have captured marine biologist Natalie Giofre who is celebrating close to her first year of operating a mobile food van in Townsville.

While her business, called Gypseas, has endured some rough seas, including Covid-19 and heatwaves restricting trade, it is now starting to build some momentum.

Part of that momentum has come from co-locating with some like-minded businesses at the Core Movement Hub in Mundingburra and delivering on what really drives her: providing healthy food options including gluten and dairy free choices.

What’s not to like about vegan sourdough crumpets with scrumptious toppings, lime and coconut polenta cake, roast pumpkin, mushroom and feta polenta tart and nutritious cold-pressed fruit juices?

“The real drive behind starting the van was that I had allergies and issues around what I could eat. I found it hard to go out and get healthy breakfasts. I thought I can do this better and give people more options,” Ms Giofre said.

Natalie Giofre, owner of Gypseas Coffee Van, with her mascot Marlin at her Mundingburra location. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The Gypseas food van started mid-last year operating at the Cotter’s and Renegade markets and with a permit to operate from a park on the seafront at Rowes Bay.

She has now established for mornings at the Core Movement Hub in Ross River Rd in between the rehab, physiotherapy and somatic therapy clinic and the Higher States of Yoga studio.

“It’s been hard starting a new business. Now I’m surrounded by a hub of women who have small businesses. Having their support has been amazing for me. It’s meant I can benefit from the regular customers and be part of the crowd that the yoga studio brings in,” Ms Giofre said.

Ms Giofre has spent more than a decade in marine biology, including working at the Australian Institute of Marine Science at Cape Ferguson outside Townsville monitoring the growth of corals and checking water samples.

“I enjoyed what I did but I was also the one organising social events and in charge of the Christmas party. I guess the social side was calling me to work more with people rather than being stuck in the lab,” she said.

Not that the world of marine biology is lost to her. She has taken a year’s leave without pay from her role at AIMS and is considering whether she can work at the institute and at Gypseas.

“I definitely do not want to close the door to marine biology but I also love what I do at the moment. We’ll see how it all pans out,” Ms Giofre said.

Regulars at Gypseas will be hoping it’s the latter.

JD SPORTS TO OPEN STORE IN TOWNSVILLE

Ultra-hip footwear and apparel retailer JD Sports is coming to town.

Stockland Townsville has announced the key signing of the British group as its extends its successful entry in Australia into North Queensland.

A spokesman for the retailer said the global trend to sportswear and athleisure had spurred their expansion in Australia and New Zealand.

JD Sports is opening in Stockland Townsville on March 31.

He promised a product range “the likes of which the region has never seen”.

“We’re primed to bring our world-class in-store experience, as well as exclusive offering of brands and styles across footwear and apparel for men, women and children, to the burgeoning region of North Queensland,” the spokesman said.

“We look forward to marking the occasion with a store opening product assortment, the likes of which the region has never seen, that will reward the most loyal and dedicated fans of the brand.”

Melbourne artist and skateboarder Charlotte Frimpong markets some DJ Sports gear.

Andrew Stallan, Centre Manager at Stockland Townsville, said JD Sports was an excellent

addition to their fashion offering and built on key acquisitions they had made in fashion and retail.

“JD Sports is a world-class apparel retailer and brings some of the biggest international

sportswear brands to our customers here in Townsville,” Mr Stallan said.

“We’re thrilled JD Sports has chosen Stockland Townsville for their new store and we’re

excited to be part of this new chapter for their business in the region.”

Mr Stallan said shoppers could expect to see a launch of exclusive and limited-edition

footwear with giveaways to be announced leading up to the store opening.

Stockland Townsville is the region’s largest hub for shopping and retail and recently has welcomed brands such as PIVOT, Cotton On MEGA, Factorie, Universal Store and Ghanda.

JD Sports set to open its doors at Stockland on March 31.

Originally published as Popular family Thai restaurant takes menu out to suburbs