Broadbeach Surf Parade cafes and restaurants suffer as Gold Coast City Council upgrade works begin

SUFFERING Broadbeach traders say major upgrade work shutting Surf Parade to vehicle traffic has destroyed business and made the hub a ‘ghost town’.

Bootleg Juice Bar owner Anthony Bootleg is reporting a 30 per cent plus drop in trading since council's major street upgrade started, shutting down vehicle traffic along Surf Parade in Broadbeach. Photo: Jerad Williams

SUFFERING Broadbeach traders say major upgrade work shutting Surf Parade to vehicle traffic has made the hub a “ghost town”.

Cafes and restaurant owners along the formerly bustling thoroughfare have battled since August 1 when the Gold Coast City Council’s $4.5m revamp turned the road into a construction zone.

In scenes reminiscent of the disruptive light rail build, owners say it will be great when finished next May but some might not survive to benefit.

Bootleg Juice Bar owner Anthony Bootleg said his business had copped a 30 per cent trade reduction.

“It’s only been two weeks but our trade is dropping — we are finding each day has dropped off since it started,” Mr Bootleg said, urging locals to get out and support their favourite venues.

Normally bustling Broadbeach hub Surf Parade is open for business but suffered a major trading hit since city council’s $4.5 million upgrade began closing the street to vehicles. Photo: Jerad Williams

Neighbouring Onyx bar and restaurant marketing manager Annie Cotter said morning foot traffic had been wiped out.

“It’s never empty along here at 7.30am but now we are so empty,” Miss Cotter said.

“It’s going to be great when it is finished — for those businesses that are still here.”

Onyx owner Lauren Hyland said she was trying to stay positive and doing specials day and night but it was going to be a difficult 10 months.

“It’s going to be amazing when it’s done but right now the place is an absolute ghost town,” she said

The council had given relief from streetside table fees, easing the burden by $500 a month but she called that “hardly anything”.

The upgrade and construction site along Surf Parade in Broadbeach. Photo: Jerad Williams

Onyx took to social media yesterday to remind people small businesses remained open.

“We all understand it’s no longer convenient just to pull up out the front and duck in for a coffee or takeaway breakfast but it’s now more than ever that small businesses in the area need local support,” the message said.

Across the road, Koi restaurant manager Matthew Measures said construction “massively affected” breakfast trade and Saturday mornings.

“It does feel like a real ghost town,” he said.

When announcing the upgrade — part of a Broadbeach precinct master plan — division councillor Paul Taylor said it would be “a little bit of pain for a lot of gain”.

The upgrade and construction site along Surf Parade in Broadbeach. Photo: Jerad Williams

The council has committed to radio advertising, extra street signs and hotel flyer drops promoting the area and was providing relief on alfresco table fees to the tune of $13,000 a month, he said.

Traffic will continue to be blocked until December before a Christmas holiday break.

Stage two from January to May next year will cut traffic off along a 200m stretch between Victoria and Queensland avenues.

Not all businesses were hurting.

Sage manager Lucy Johnson said while no one sat on the venue’s Surf Parade side, the other half rounding on to Queensland Avenue was unaffected by dust or noise and trading as good as ever.