Gold Coast restaurant Boudoir Lounge reopens after Sydney entrepreneur Harvey Gebara’s false start

It was meant to be the year a major Sydney entrepreneur made his mark on the Gold Coast – until coronavirus took it all away. Now the city’s latest “playground” for women is opening for real.

IT was meant to be the year Sydney entrepreneur Harvey Gebara made his mark on the Gold Coast, but after a short taste it was all taken away.

Today Mr Gebara will be reopening his Southport venue Boudoir Lounge to 40 customers from 4pm after a successful opening at the start of the year was cut short.

After a year of planning and an enormous amount of expense, Mr Gebara’s dream to open a “playground” for Gold Coast women was becoming a reality when he opened his venue, which has a bar, kitchen and salon in January.

Harvey Gebara spent one year building Boudoir Lounge in Southport. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Then March 23 hit, the day the hospitality industry was turned on its head with COVID-19 regulations forcing many businesses to shut, including Boudoir Lounge.

Mr Gebara said the success of the first two months of business had left him feeling optimistic.

“We had been opened for two months,” Mr Gebara said.

“That first month you feel a little trepid as despite all your preparation you just never know if people will love what you have put your heart and soul into.

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“However, by the sixth week, we were getting booked out and I knew this dream was actually becoming real.”

“The first two weeks following the shut down, I actually managed to remain optimistic in that we could still do take away options.

“I am an extremely positive person and honestly thought I could think my way us of this.”

As the weeks went on and restriction continued the situation started to kick in for Mr Gebara who said he was in a sense of shock.

Waitress Renata Cardoso, Owner Harvey Gebara and Head Chef Tamara Zeppelini can’t wait for opening. Picture Glenn Hampson

“What made it worse was that you could not see people, get out of the house and talk it through,” he said.

“It hit me hard for about a month, I am not ashamed in saying I was not in a good way”

Tomorrow, Boudoir Lounge reopen its doors again for the first time in seven weeks to forty customers.

Mr Gebara said they’ll be a few changes customers can enjoy including a new tapas menu, new staff and a no set time policy for the 40 diners.

“Boudoir Lounge is all about Belonging, a place where you can be comfortable about being yourself and really have the time to talk to the people you care about,” he said.