Nobby Beach: How strip has come alive with casual wining and dining

Hellenika’s high-profile closure is heralding a changing of the guard in tightly held Nobby Beach. Local operators say the suburb will bounce back and thrive.

HELLENIKA’S high-profile closure is heralding a changing of the guard in tightly held Nobby Beach.

CBRE’s Cody Buck said the promise of light rail construction had not dampened business enthusiasm in the beachside retail strip as new operators chose to see big-picture gain over short-term pain.

“What Simon Gloftis has done for Nobbys is exceptional – in a lot of ways he’s pulled it along over the years,” he said.

“While it is sad to see Simon go, the fact Justin Lane’s (operators) are moving into Nobbys just shows the strength of the area and its continued growth.

“From a business perspective, everyone is excited. Everyone I’m talking to is choosing to see (the light rail extension) as a big-picture positive.

Bobby Douglas and Dominic Benjamin from I Like Ramen with Matt Cairns from Surfboard Empire and agent Cody Buck in front of the stores. Picture Glenn Hampson

GOLD COAST HELLENIKA OWNER SIMON GLOFTIS ON VOUCHERS AND ADVANCE BOOKING AFTER ANNOUNCING CLOSURE

“It’s just dealing with the short-term pain of construction and a lot of that comes down to relationships with individual landlords.”

Mr Buck said Surfboard Empire and I Like Ramen had moved in to the northern corner building at 2251 Gold Coast Hwy, which had been home to Local Knowledge surf shop since 2008.

“We saw the opportunity to reposition and undertake a pretty substantial refurbishment and split it up into what is now five tenancies – one upstairs and four on the ground floor,” he said.

“Nobbys is primarily known as an eating and drinking precinct and it was always envisioned that we’d end up with some very good food and beverages operators.

“We thought the local push best, that local operators and really high quality services were the way to go.”

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Bobby Douglas and Dominic Benjamin from I Like Ramen. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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Loki, the two-storey restaurant and rooftop bar replacing the outgoing Hellenika, is tipped to open on Saturday.

General manager Brodie Millwood said the casual drinking, dining and dancing space would be a “bold statement about how the Gold Coast dining scene has evolved in the past 10 years”.

“Nobbys has already got a scene and with new venues opening up in the next couple of months it’s a great time,” he said.

Another eatery called Mr., the third for Shonel Alloway and Kylie Fitzgerald who also own neighbouring The Arc and Forreal Kitchen, opened this month near the southern roundabout.

Billed as a sophisticated den for drinks, dinner and tapas, it specialises in shucked-to-order oysters and creative cocktails.

MUCH-LOVED NOBBY BEACH BAR AND RESTAURANT SHUTS DOORS

Hellenika owner Simon Gloftis. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Scott Imlach, a trailblazer in the Nobbys food and bar scene, has returned to his original stomping ground to open Night Cap, a surf-themed bar and music venue in the former IGA building.

A boutique wine store devoted to specialty drops and experiences is also understood to be debuting in 2020, but there’s still room for more.

“The northern Nobbys precinct is where most of the leasing activity is happening at the moment,” Mr Buck said.

“We’re not necessarily looking for just food and beverage operators – retail or service retail, maybe some medical.”