Lone Star Rib House closes last Gold Coast venue at Coomera Westfield

A barbeque joint beloved for its juicy ribs is the latest business to become a Covid casualty, closing its last remaining site on The Glitter Strip.

A TEXAN-style eatery beloved for its juicy ribs is the latest in a string of Gold Coast businesses to become a Covid casualty, closing its last remaining site in the city.

Lone Star Rib House at Westfield Coomera permanently shutdown this month in a shock move, leaving families who frequented the popular BBQ joint disappointed.

Passers-by this week discovered its former site stripped of its furnishings, left bare with only a message from management posted to the window confirming its closure.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to close until further notice due to the recent outbreak of the Covid-19 situation,” management said.

Passers-by discover the site cleared out of any furnishings. Picture: Michele Sara

“We hope everyone stays safe during these trying times.”

It brings an end to the restaurant’s almost four-year tenure at the shopping centre since its opening in 2018.

Lone Star Rib House still operates several sites across Queensland.

Though the exact reason for the shutdown is clear, it follows a tumultuous period for Gold Coast’s hospitality scene – many forced to temporarily close due to staff shortages.

Management did not respond to the Bulletin’s request for comment.

Cheers to that: Brewery sets impressive new record

January 27, 2022

Gold Coast craft beer barons Black Hops have set a new record in meeting the biggest crowd-funding target for a brewery in Australia.

In just under 24 hours, the company succeeded in generating $2.2m in investor funds, far outweighing a $400,000 target in 2019 which took six days to achieve.

Black Hops co-founder Dan Norris said he was “amazed” the target was met so quickly.

“I knew from the get-go we’ve always had an exceptional product and brand but we couldn’t be more happy with the result,” he said.

Black Hops Brewing are giving punters the chance to invest through a new crowd-funding venture. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“To have a four-week campaign done and dusted in under 24 hours was incredible. The team is stoked.”
Mr Norris said a couple of ‘sophisticated’ investors pitched in $50,000 as they were “passionate supporters of the brand from the start.”

He told The Bulletin on Tuesday the funds would go towards a new $3m canning line, which will see production go from 1500 cartons per day to 7000. Also on the cards is a new gin and whiskey distillery in Biggera Waters.

How to buy into the Coast’s most popular brewery

January 25, 2021

Always wanted to own your own brewery without actually having to brew beer, or know what you’re doing?

Black Hops might just have the answer for you.

Co-founder Dan Norris is launching a crowd-funding campaign where even the most average beer-swilling punter can get in on the action.

He says it could be the largest capital raising venture for a brewery ever in Australia.

The move comes as the company oversees a large expansion plan which will send production volumes skyrocketing.

With a target of $2.2m, Mr Norris is offering investors a stake in the business which will help bolster production and see upgrades to its facilities across the Gold Coast.

If targets are fully met, the company will forge ahead with plans to open its new gin and whiskey distillery, Pine Ridge Distillers – to be built on a site adjacent to Black Hops’ Biggera Waters production brewery and tap room.

The campaign will launch to the public on Thursday through equity crowd-funding platform Birchal which allows everyday Australians to buy shares in private and unlisted public companies.

A minimum investment starts out at $200 and goes up to $10,000 for ‘normal’ investors. ‘Sophisticated’ investors can chip in as much as $500,000.

Country’s top 100 craft beers announced

Mr Norris said funds raised would assist in implementing a new, $3m canning line, which would see production levels soar.

“At the moment we are doing around 1500 cartons per day. But with the new line we can jump up to around 7000,” he said.

“It will be huge for us to pack that much beer. Our product is now stocked in Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores around Australia so to be able to produce more enables us to enter our next phase of growth.

“We are offering a wonderful opportunity for the public to invest in a growing Gold Coast business and are seeing 100 per cent year-on-year growth.”

Investors will receive special member offers – including discounts at taprooms and the opportunity to brew your own signature beer.

Black Hops Brewing Co founders Eddie Oldfield, Dan Norris and Michael McGovern pictured at their Burleigh business. Picture: Mike Batterham

In 2019, Black Hops launched a second crowd-funding venture through Birchal to expand its Gold Coast footprint by opening a taproom and facility in Biggera Waters.

Titled Black Hops II, Mr Norris said the crowd-funding was “essential” for finishing construction and opening doors to the public.

Within eight hours Black Hops had raised its minimum goal of $150,000 and easily met its $400,000 target.

By now, Black Hops is well-acquainted with crowd-funding – having first launched a campaign in 2015 which saw the completion of their first brewery build in the backstreets of Burleigh Heads.

When asked if he’d ever be tempted in selling out Mr Norris said: “There’s a beauty in staying independent. I really have no interest in that. We’ve got something super special going and we are happy right now.”

Fronting up in front of the tanks. Picture: Tim Marsden

However, he said a public listing “could be on the cards” if the company could keep growing and there was enough investor interest.

“We would love to become Australia’s most loved independent craft beer brand and continue to advocate for beer brewing in southeast Queensland and the Gold Coast,” he said.

And the proof is in the pale ale: Black Hops recently saw six of its beers on the Great Australian Beer Spectacular’s (GABS) Hottest 100 craft beers list.

The brewery’s GOAT Hazy IPA came in at number five on the list followed by the East Coast Haze Pale Ale, Neverland IPA, Hop Swap IPA, Classic Pale Ale and Hornet IPA.

Originally published as Lone Star Rib House closes last Gold Coast venue at Coomera Westfield