Beloved Dalby eatery Dingers Fish and Burgers Co to close

The owners of Dalby’s sole fish and chip store have announced that they will be shutting up shop by the end of this week but encouraged customers to visit their original location.

Dalby’s only fish and chip store has made the difficult decision to close its doors amid staff shortages and an increased pressure to balance work and family life.

The second of two stores owned by Supun and Anjala Warz, Dingers was a popular venue within the Western Downs and news of its closure led to an outpouring of sadness from the community.

Dingers Dalby closes its doors

Beginning in Crows Nest more than 20 years ago, the team made the decision to expand into Dalby but ultimately opted to close their doors to prioritise time with their family.

“When we brought the brand to Dalby, our goal was to deliver the same quality, consistency, and community spirit that we provide in Crows Nest,” Mr Warz said.

“Within a short time, Dingers became a staple for locals and travellers alike and the decision to close was not made lightly.

“As small business owners and parents of two young children, we faced increasing pressure to balance work and family life. Staff shortages and operational challenges added to the strain.

“There are unique challenges in rural settings, finding consistent and reliable team members in small towns is often more difficult than in urban areas. Logistics can also be tricky, with supply chain delays more common. Marketing reach and foot traffic are more limited too, so you have to work twice as hard to build and maintain momentum.

“Ultimately, we made the difficult choice to prioritise our family’s wellbeing and scale back in order to focus on what matters most.”

Dingers Dalby will close its doors on Friday

Mr Warz said since announcing their closure the community outpour of support had been heartwarming.

“The response has been deeply moving. We’ve received heartfelt messages, phone calls, and even visits from regulars expressing how much they’ll miss Dingers,” he said.

“It’s clear that the shop meant more to people than just a meal — it was a part of their routine and their memories.

“We have had families come in week after week, and it was always a joy to see kids grow up on our food. One special memory is when a traveller told us they’d planned their road trip route just to stop at Dingers after seeing our reviews online — that meant the world to us.”

Mr Warz thanked the Dalby community for their support and urged them to visit their Crows Nest location.

“Thank you, Dalby — from the bottom of our hearts. Your support, kindness, and loyalty have meant everything to us. This isn’t just the closing of a shop — it’s the end of a chapter that’s been filled with hard work, joy, and community connection,” he said.

“We’re proud of what we built here, and even prouder to have done it alongside such a warm and supportive community. We hope this goodbye is not forever, and we’d love to see some familiar faces at our Crows Nest location.”

Located in the heart of Crows Nest the store is open seven days a week from 10am to 7.30pm.

Originally published as Beloved Dalby eatery Dingers Fish and Burgers Co to close