The Collective Palm Beach: Developer Paul Gedoun of S&S Projects behind sale
The buyer behind the sale of the site of a popular restaurant - who’s also building a high-rise at the former Cafe DBar site - has revealed what’s in store for the future. ALL THE DETAILS >>>
Food
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THE developer behind a new high-rise at the former site of Café Dbar has made their foray into Palm Beach, snapping up the site of The Collective in a multimillion-dollar deal.
S & S Projects businessman Paul Gedoun told the Bulletin the company purchased the site at 1128 Gold Coast Highway earlier this year. The sale is due to reach settlement in Novemeber.
It comes after rumours swirled online in recent days that the building had sold and the popular eatery which opened in 2016 was set to close.
Management addressed concerns in a statement posted to social media on Thursday, shutting down whispers the two-storey establishment would close in coming months.
Mr Gedoun did not disclose the sale price but it is understood the site sold for $4 million.
He said plans for the site were yet to be determined but discussions with the current tenant – who is locked into a 25-year lease – were ongoing.
“It is very early stages, but we are looking at options for the site and we would like to deliver something spectacular that will complement and support the increasingly vibrant residential, restaurant and dining precinct that Palm Beach is becoming renowned for,” he said.
“I am delighted to be a part of the transformation of one of Australia’s most active residential beachfront precincts. It is no secret how Palm Beach is one of the most transformative precincts on the Gold Coast and we’re looking forward to being a part of it.”
Mr Gedoun has become one of the Gold Coast’s prolific developers in the past 18 months.
S & S Projects is behind three major Coolangatta towers – the under-construction $74 million Flow Residences, the mixed-used Esprit tower which is before council and the luxury $46 million Awaken Residences which is replacing the now-closed Café D-Bar.
The Collective co-owner Craig Shearer told the Bulletin he would meet with Mr Gedoun in coming days and that they did not have intentions to sell if propositioned.
“If they’re looking to redevelop the site then they would need to be considering how to work in The Collective to the design,” he said.
Fate of popular Coast eatery revealed amid site sale
August 2: team behind a popular Gold Coast eatery has hit back at rumours that it is set to close for good despite the building it has occupied for five years being sold.
The Bulletin understands the site at 1128 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach – home to The Collective – has been under contract for $4 million since January this year.
LJ Hooker Palm Beach agent Tara Imlach confirmed on Thursday that terms of the sale reached unconditional three weeks later in February.
It is due to reach settlement in November later this year.
As rumours swirled online, management of The Collective – which opened its doors in 2016 – were forced to address mounting speculation the much-loved venue would close.
In a statement posted to social media, a company spokesman said the rumours were unfounded: “You may have seen or heard a few stories doing the rounds today that The Collective has been sold and that our building is soon to be demolished,” they said.
“Please know that these are just rumours and we have not been bought out and have no intention of selling!
“Rest assured, we’re not going anywhere, and we look forward to continuing to deliver amazing experiences for you in the years to come.”
As it stands The Collective currently has in place a 25-year lease agreement.
Co-owner Craig Shearer told the Bulletin there was one “key detail” missing from the rumours, that the sale was exclusive to the building and not the business.
“Us as the business operators haven’t sold anything and we don’t intend to,” Mr Shearer said.
He said the new buyer had not engaged with them relating to discussions of a sale but that the two parties were due to meet in coming days.
“If they’re looking to redevelop the site then they would need to be considering how to work in The Collective to the design,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to that chat, they would understand as well as anyone else what an intricate part The Collective plays to the value of the community and real estate.”
‘More what ifs’: New venue forges on despite border blues
August 26: The team behind Palm Beach’s new Mexican eatery has been dealt a curve ball just weeks into opening as its Tweed-based produce supplier remains locked out of the state.
Costa Tacos co-founders, brothers Nick and Matt Stanley, say while the challenge was unexpected it is also the new-found reality of opening a business during the pandemic.
“We had a few troubles last week when they went really hard on the closure. There were a few days where we couldn’t get our hands on our produce,” Nick said.
“It’s eased up a bit now because most of the farmers have been able to get freight and business passes to come across the border.”
Cross-border farmers Jumping Red Ant are among thousands of businesses whose services to their Queensland customers have been impacted by the hard border closure.
The brothers have instead leaned on Gold Coast suppliers to fulfil their orders of seasonal chillies, avocado and limes – staple ingredients for their top-notch tacos.
“We’ve been fortunate that there’s the Currumbin Community Markets, if our main supplier isn’t able to get over then he can give it to his friends to bring it over,” Nick explained.
“It puts a lot more what ifs in your head, and it probably makes you a lot more cautious about the decisions you’re making.”
While it’s not the pair’s first foray into the hospitality scene – they already own hugely successful Cuzzie Pies – it is their first venture in Mexican food.
“We started to play around with ideas a while ago. We used to cook a lot Mexican at home and we love Mexican food as a fun concept,” Nick said.
A big part of this involved using local suppliers to deliver authentic seasonal menus which will feature sip and dip spicy soups, fish tacos, pork carnitas and beef birria.
“We want to encourage people to eat local, eat fresh, as well as create a sustainable food model for where the produce is coming from,” he said.
“If another small business owner and asked what I thought about this, I would say trust the people of the Gold Coast because they do want to support local businesses.”
Costa Tacos is located at 1136 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach.
Hell of an experience’: Food truck owner’s battle to survive
August 24: Only a few years ago Gold Coast’s food truck industry was at its peak, with a new operator launching what seemed to be every week.
The demand grew so much at one point more than 150 vendors operated city wide and public events heroed them. Today, the number has dwindled closer to 50.
Many operators were forced to shut amid Covid but Paddy Skicko of Weiner Haus – one of the city’s first food trucks – managed to navigate the pandemic and stay afloat – just. Now in its ninth year, the gourmet hotdog vendor said recent times had proven destructive for the once booming sector.
“Every time there’s a lockdown or restriction put in place, the calendar gets cleared – that’s happened three or four times now.
“You have to adapt to survive. It’s put me in the position where I’ve had to step back and look back at how I can change to make money.”
Among those changes included downsizing his storage facility and letting go of staff to the point of being reduced to one-man band.
“This whole experience has definitely taught me to take the emotion of out of stuff and think about it more on a business front,” he said.
“It’s been hell of an experience. In some ways it’s been positive because I’ve learned to trim the fat, but in other ways it’s disheartening when you don’t make the same.
“It’s gotten quiet because there’s no big food truck events anymore. Everybody’s found a way to keep themselves going but markets have been probably the main support for everybody.”
The decision to close his Stockland Burleigh shopfront just before Covid hit last year proved a saving grace.
“I’m so thankful I made that choice when I did. That would have made a massive difference to my position now if we held onto it,” he said.
An added blow – and additional loss of income – came with the Queensland-NSW border closure which has rendered thousands of workers unable to perform cross-border duties.
“I threw away stock for the first time maybe a fortnight ago, that’s pretty yuck, it’s a horrible feeling. I can think ahead no more than a fortnight now (for stock),” he said, adding his support of a review for the hard border line.
Though times are tough, Mr Skicko noted others had fared worse: “I just remember how I was raised and that is to work hard, if I keep working hard than I will be okay. I’m still eating and there’s definitely people worse off than I am,” he said.
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