Sushi Train secures new premises on Ferry Rd on Gold Coast

A popular sushi chain has secured new premises on Ferry Rd in Southport previously home to an auto workshop for $2.695 million but it won’t be a new restaurant.

• International delegates to swamp Coast
• Coast leaders push Qld gov to endorse public beach house plan

A POPULAR sushi chain has secured new premises on Ferry Rd in Southport previously home to an auto workshop for $2.695 million but it won’t be a new restaurant.

Instead Jacob Griffin, of Ray White Industrial M1 North, said Sushi Train owner Bob Jones has purchased 40 Ferry Rd as a “man shed” to store cars as well as possibly use as a commercial kitchen.

This is the second time the 913sq m site has sold in just over two years.

In October 2018 motor dealer Schulz Group offloaded the property, then leased to East Coast Tyre & Auto, for $2.135 million to B & E Siebert Super Holdings Pty Ltd.

40 Ferry Rd, Southport

The latter is owned by Brian and Esti Siebert who founded complementary medicine manufacturer BJP Laboratories which they later sold to DZG Investments.

Mr Griffin said the new owner has varied plans for the site but it won’t be one of the company’s eateries.

“They were thinking about using it for storage for nice cars and a man shed and they may put a commercial kitchen in there,” he said.

The site contains a sign board currently leased which Mr Griffin said was a “sweetener” for the new owner as they may seek to use it when the lease expires.

He said the property was originally listed for lease when East Coast Tyre & Auto exited the premises.

Sushi Train has 50 restaurants in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Griffin said it became apparent that the property was more suited to an owner-occupier and he started to field offers.

“There’s not much choice along that road especially for freestanding buildings so it was very attractive. It has had renovations done so it presents well.”

The property consists of a building spanning 420sq m with onsite amenities including lunch room and large parking area.

Sushi Train was launched by Japan-born Mr Jones in Surfers Paradise in 1993.

At that time the concept of a “rotation sushi bar system” with the sushi moving along a conveyor belt was new to Australia.

The chain currently has 48 restaurants in Australia and two in New Zealand.

Follow @thomoalis1