Townsville family business crushed by costs makes heartbreaking decision to close

The Mason family built the “biggest dessert bar in Townsville” and dreamed of national expansion, only to watch economic pressures destroy everything.

Mason's Restaurant has closed in Deeragun after struggling with rising costs for ingredients, wages, rent and power. Picture: Leighton Smith.

A Townsville family business which launched with a big menu and even bigger dreams of becoming a national franchise, made the heartbreaking decision to close after being crushed by skyrocketing costs created by the current economic environment.

After launching confectionery business The Candy Wrapper in 2016, and taking over North Ward’s The Treehouse in 2019 – which combines Hopscotch ice creamery, Rock Paper Scissors fish and chips, Coffee Time Cafe, and Checkers Pizza – the Mason family opened Mason’s Restaurant in Deeragun Village shopping mall in February.

The business’ owner operator Jesse Mason said they were targeting the fast-growing northern suburbs with an offering which featured all of their popular products in one place, including pizzas going up to “Yowie” size, fish and chips, burgers, coffees, cafe meals, and “the biggest dessert bar in Townsville”.

He said their family had worked long hours and endured financial hardship created by difficult economic conditions over the past five years, including the rising cost of ingredients, wages, rent, power, gas, and freight.

The business officially closed at the start of November.

Mason’s Restaurants owner operator Jesse Mason soon after they opened in February. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“We put our heart and soul into everything that we’ve been doing … we had to make the decision after four or five years and it cost us a lot of money … we just couldn’t continue anymore the way that we were … it just wasn’t sustainable,” Mr Mason said.

“When one door closes, another opens, so we’ve had to make that decision to try to progress down a different path and try something new that doesn’t necessarily involve the restaurant industry.”

Mr Mason said he was keeping staff informed as they worked through the process of paying what they were owed, to reach a “positive conclusion”.

“We greatly appreciate all of our customers and all the friends we’ve made along the way, and all of our business partners and our suppliers that we’ve had – they’ve really made the journey a memorable one, and we’ve had a lot of positive experiences as well,” he said.

Mason’s Restaurants owner operator Jesse Mason looks forward to satisfying pizza and dessert cravings for residents in Townsville's northern suburbs. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“This is not the way we wanted things to end, but we appreciated every coffee, every pizza, and every chat with a stranger who we’ve been able to turn into a friend … and the Deeragun community in general.

“We’ve got to put one foot in front of the other and just do what’s best for our family.”

Originally published as Townsville family business crushed by costs makes heartbreaking decision to close