Ashmore Seafood and Steak closing after nearly 40 years, to be replaced by Ashmore Markets, second Harris Farm outlet
A beloved seafood and steak restaurant will close its doors early to make way for a shopping centre, which will include an up-market grocer.
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A beloved seafood and steak restaurant is to make way for a shopping centre which will include the Gold Coast’s second Harris Farm Markets outlet.
TAKE A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH THESE RETRO RESTAURANTS
Churchill Development Group has lodged plans with Gold Coast City Council for a 5,290sq m complex on the corner of Reed St and Ashmore Rd.
The centre, to be known as Ashmore Markets, is to include shops, restaurants and health care services across two floors and 227 carparking spaces.
It is envisaged in planning documents that a Harris Farms Markets store would dominate the upper level, while the health care centre and loading bays would take up the lower floor.
The documents state that the centre is expected to open seven days a week from 6am to 10pm, with deliveries “proposed to occur over a 24 hour period”.
Proponents said the project would “result in a revitalisation of the existing degraded centre” and create new employment “both during the construction period, and more importantly, on an ongoing basis once the development is complete.”
The new Harris Farm Markets outlet would be the up-market supermarket chain’s second Gold Coast store after opening at Capri on Via Roma in November last year.
At 2700sq m, it will be considerably larger than the 1500sq m Isle of Capri outlet.
The supermarket chain is popular with shoppers for its extensive line of fresh fruit and veg, boutique local products and in-store delis, butchers, fish markets and bakeries.
The Ashmore Markets development will be built on the site of a much-loved restaurant which this week announced its closure.
Ashmore Seafood and Steakhouse, which has served the Gold Coast for almost 40 years, will closes its doors for the last time on Sunday, February 20.
“After 38 years of being family-owned and operated, we’re saddened to announce that our last day of trade is on Sunday 20th Feb,” the restaurant announced.
“The land where our restaurant sits on has been sold and is expected to be redeveloped later this year.
“We want to take the time to say a massive thank you to all our customers for all their unwavering support over the years.”
The news was greeted with dismay by loyal customers, who described it as a “Gold Coast icon” with “great service and amazing food”.
Many shared memories of special family occasions enjoyed at the restaurant including birthday parties, wedding receptions and engagements.
“It’s been part of our family history,” one local said. “Many birthdays and celebrations have been held there. It’s a sad day.”
FAMOUS COAST RESTAURANT TO CLOSE AS DEVELOPER MOVES IN
FEBRUARY 14: One of the Gold Coast’s famous restaurants will serve its final steak much sooner than expected as a developer prepares to demolish its home of nearly 40 years.
Ashmore Seafood and Steakhouse, which opened in 1984 and has been a favourite eatery for tourists and some of the city’s best-known identities, will close on Sunday.
The Reed St building will be demolished in coming months to make way for a new $50m shopping centre its developers have declared will be an “epicurean emporium”.
In an emotional social media post, the restaurants owners, the Carkazis family, revealed the end was nigh.
“The land where our restaurant sits on has been sold and is expected to be redeveloped later this year,” the post read.
TAKE A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH THESE RETRO RESTAURANTS
“We want to take the time to say a massive thank you to all our customers for all their unwavering support over the years.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to serve you all delicious seafood & steak, and you will all be missed.”
It comes months after the Gold Coast City Council ticked-off plans for the proposed Ashmore Markets project which was put forward by Churchill Development Group and Steer Developments.
The new markets have been described as a “premium retail and food marketplace” which will take up 5300sq m of the site.
It is expected to feature a shopping centre, medical hub and speciality retail stores.
Ashmore Seafood and Steakhouse was opened on January 26, 1984 by the Greece-born Carkazis brothers and it became an immediate hit, well-known for the quality of its steaks and its specialty garlic bread.
It has been a long-time haunt for Mayor Tom Tate who has previously expressed sorrow at its closure.
In 2005 it hosted former senator, Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen who held a gathering with old National Party faithful there.
In 2010 it was also at the centre of controversy when it was chosen as the dining location for ultra-right wing activists who attended the neo-Nazi Hammered skinhead festival.
Churchill Development Group’s executive director Jonathan Leishman told the Bulletin in late 2021 he wanted to build on the legacy of the restaurant.
“Renowned local restaurateurs Nick and Jim Carkazis spent decades building this site into a ‘must-go’ food destination. Why change it?” he said.
“In fact, we want to build on their legacy and shape the site into a food emporium and retail destination like no other on the Gold Coast.”
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