Jack Gosiewski and Avalon McRae open Chargrill Charlie’s at New Farm

A loved-up Brisbane Broncos player and his partner are set to launch their latest business venture next week, as they reminisce on the love that brought them there.

Jack Gosiewski and Avalon McRae at their new restaurant 'Chargrill Charlie's' in New Farm., Friday, June 20, 2025 – Picture: Richard Walker

It was love at first bite for one of Brisbane’s sporting power couples, and now they are launching their very own, Queensland-first restaurant.

Brisbane Bronco’s backrower Jack Gosiewski and his partner Avalon McRae are set to open Queensland’s first-ever Chargrill Charlie’s chicken shop in New Farm next week, after an intense ten months of planning, including 14 weeks of in-store training in Sydney.

The couple, originally from New South Wales, were mega fans of the chain’s Rose Bay and Bondi stores, eating there several times a week.

It even served as the setting for their very first date.

“It was the first time we had met in person, and at that time I would get paid monthly, and that day was payday,” Mr Gosiewski said.

“Normally I would get paid earlier in the afternoon, but that day I was waiting for the pay to go in, I only had like $75 in my account and I was just stressing … stressing that Avalon would throw up a restaurant that would blow that $75 budget.”

“So then I thought let’s get takeaway from Chargrill Charlie’s and take it up to Vaucluse and up there’s a beautiful view over the harbour and she thought it was the most romantic date.

“I took a photo and sent it to my friend and said ‘this is my husband’ because of how romantic it was!” added Ms McRae.

The photo Avalon McRae took on her first date with Jack Gosiewski, as they ate Chargrill Charlie's. Photo: Supplied

Now, a little over five years later, the couple is putting the final touches on their very own storefront in New Farm, which Ms McRae said she knew would be a perfect fit from the moment they moved to the area.

Late in 2024, Gosiewski was away on a golf trip when Ms McRae mused that their new locale in the up-market Brisbane suburb felt similar to their former suburb of Rose Bay, and was amazed there were no chicken shops, especially considering the presence of the sprawling New Farm Park.

“I didn’t even tell Jack I was thinking about it to begin with because he was away …. i just had a look on their website and I thought ‘oh, I’ll just inquire’ … and they called me … talked about the site and said, the first location is in New Farm, it sort of clicked like it was meant to be,” Ms McRae said.

The restaurant, set to open on June 28 on Merthyr Rd, will be a true family affair, with Ms McRae taking the reins, even though the couple’s three year old son Goldie is convinced he’s in charge.

“Goldie thinks that it’s his store, he thinks we work for him,”Mr Gosiewski said.

“He’s like that’s my shop.”

Originally published as Jack Gosiewski and Avalon McRae open Chargrill Charlie’s at New Farm