Main Beach’s Tedder Ave restaurant strip struggling to attract tourists as businesses close down

TRENDY Tedder Avenue is in trouble and struggling to attract tourists as high rents and a lack of tourists force businesses to close.

Tedder Avenue was once a busy hub of the Gold Coasts rich and famous. It now has restaurants that are near empty and shops moving out. Picture by Scott Fletcher

TRENDY Tedder Ave at Main Beach is in trouble and struggling to attract tourists.

At least six restaurants, four clothing boutiques and the TAB have closed in the past month, prompting business leaders to hold urgent talks with the city council about a solution.

Asian visitors are stopping to “put a toe in the surf” at nearby Main Beach but their controlled tours means their buses do not venture into ­Tedder Ave.

Other obstacles for retailers are a lack of attractions other than restaurants to entice visitors and some of the highest commercial rents on the tourist strip.

WHAT’S ON THE GOLD COAST THIS WEEKEND
ZAHA HADID TOWER PLANNED FOR THE SPIT

Tedder Avenue was once a busy hub for the Gold Coast’s rich and famous. It now has restaurants that are near empty and shops moving out. Picture: Scott Fletcher

The Bulletin has found a retail shop just big enough for a hairdressing salon costs about $111,000 a year to lease while larger restaurant space would cost $195,000.

Georgie Brown, secretary of the Main Beach Progress Association and Tedder Avenue Association, is working on a Tango in Tedder promotion, as well as film and seafood festivals, to attract tourists.

“In the past two to three weeks we have seen the closure of six restaurants, four boutiques and the TAB,” Ms Brown said.

“And there is more to come with the possible closure of another three restaurants.”

Several Tedder Ave restaurants are near empty and shops moving out. Picture by Scott Fletcher

Established restaurants like Domanis, Sensa and Shuck continued to attract strong, regular custom but smaller eateries were not making a profit, she said.

The restaurants which closed include Slyders, The Carvery, Tedder and Woodroffe, Provincial and Zorbas.

“Rents are exorbitantly high, some say higher than those in Manhattan,” Ms Brown said.
“We see busloads of Asian visitors going to the beach outside the surf club but never in Tedder.’’

Ms Brown and Main Beach Progress Association president Terry Mulligan are lobbying the council for more tourism promotion of the village.

Experienced restaurant owners in the area say the current drop-off is just a “clean out” which can occur in the quieter months of May, June and July and if new operators fail to put in the hard work.

Shuck owner Scott Budgen told the Bulletin: “If you are not professional, you won’t make any money.”

Area councillor Lex Bell said he had spoken to business leaders and was working on boosting promotion of Main Beach by using funds from a council levy on restaurants.

The highly-rated Slyder's on Tedder is among the Tedder Ave eateries to have closed down recently.

OFF THE MENU
Eateries that have recently closed in Tedder Ave
Slyders
The Carvery
Tedder and Woodroffe
Provincial
Zorbas