Argo Buderim and Press At Noosa cafe announce closures

The number of businesses across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa shutting up shop is steadily growing, with two popular hang outs being the latest to join the list.

Argo in Buderim and Press At Noosa are two popular businesses that have become the latest to close their doors.

Two popular restaurants and cafes have become the latest to close their doors amid a string of businesses across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa suffering the same fate.

Popular Buderim restaurant and bar Argo, formally known as Hungry Feel cafe, took to social media on Tuesday to announce they were closing down; while cafe Press At Noosa also announced its closure on Facebook.

Argo owner Jason Taylor, who took over the business two and a half years ago and later rebranded it, said the decision to close came after months of struggling to find staff.

Owner Jason Taylor at Argo in Buderim. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The situation was so dire an advertisement for a second chef went unanswered for more than four months, he said.

They then began serving only breakfast to compensate, and as a result lost a large portion of trade.

This business model was “not sustainable”, Mr Taylor said, given it was a 90-seat restaurant.

He said around 80 per cent of business at the restaurant were from locals who showed their support for the restaurant in the wake of the news.

Argo Cafe in Buderim will close down on Friday, March 17.

Meanwhile, Press At Noosa owner Pam Braeuner called out increasing rents as the reason behind her Noosa Fair Shopping Centre business closing down.

She said the cafe, which she bought two weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, was “her baby” and the decision to walk away was difficult.

Anna Johnson, Pam Braeuner and Jessica Clough out the front of Press At Noosa, which will close at its current site at the end of the month. Picture: Contributed

Mr Taylor and Ms Braeuner are not first businesses to close down on the Sunshine Coast and Noosa in recent months after the Malt Shovel Taphouse in Birtinya went into administration and Peak Wine Bar in Maroochydore went into liquidation.

Mr Taylor said this was indicative of a much larger issue, with many hospitality businesses still recovering from Covid.

“A lot of restaurants are feeling the pain … (hospitality) is a difficult business to be in,” he said.

Ms Braeuner, who has been in the service industry for her whole career and was an air steward before she bought the cafe, said the same as Mr Taylor and added that staff shortages were crippling.

The Press At Noosa's current site at Noosa Fair Shopping Centre. Picture: Contributed

“The backpackers stay for two months, you can’t train someone in two months,” she said.

The German-born woman moved to Noosa in 1982 and said she feared franchises would take over as more small businesses went under.

“I think heaps and heaps of businesses are going to close down in Noosa,” Ms Braeuner said.

She had intended to walk away completely but after an outcry from her loyal customers, some who started helping her hunt for a new location, Ms Braeuner was looking at another site to open in at Noosa Junction.

Argo’s last day of trade is Friday, March 17, while Press At Noosa’s last day will be March 31.

Originally published as Argo Buderim and Press At Noosa cafe announce closures