The new Grill'd restaurant in a new dining precinct known as The Avenue on the cinema side of Stockland Shellharbour is opening on Monday.
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It comes just two weeks after Lone Star Shellharbour opened at the former Groove Train and Ribs and Rumps site.
After more than 400 people applied for jobs at Grill’d Shellharbour, construction on the new building - which will also house a Chong and Co Thai restaurant - is now complete. Training is done and the finishes touches to the new healthy burger restaurant are happening this weekend.
It means Grill’d Shellharbour is one of three new eateries in The Avenue.
For franchisee Lube Markovski it is back near where it all began for him in business three decades ago.
The former child protection worker opened a flower shop in what was then known as Shellharbour Square in 1988 with only $2.11 in the bank.
Mr Markovski has been involved in many different franchises in Shellharbour and Wollongong since then and has employed many hundreds of people in the Illawarra.
But interest in his latest venture is greater than he has ever. It is located near Max Brenner and The Coffee Club where the playground was.
A new large sea themed playground has been developed closer to Cold Rock and both are expected to re-open next week.
“Grill’d Shellharbour will be the same size as Wollongong but with a bit more outdoor seating. My first business was the Shellharbour Square Florist.
It was out the front of the old KMart in a little kiosk. They used to have an ice-skating rink there occasionally. And Santa and the stage was always behind us.
We then had a Boost Juice here. And we eventually had a Hairhouse Warehouse here.
We set a national record when we opened that. It still holds the record for the biggest opening day in Australia. Our Wollongong store had it and then Shellharbour smashed it.”
Mr Markovski set the national record for hamburger sales in one day when Grill’d Wollongong opened in October 2014.
And said there is already enormous interest in Grill’d Shellharbour. He said his family decided to open a second one at Stockland and continue to invest in the Illawarra because they can see so much potential in the area.
“It just makes sense. I think it is important for the region to have two strong areas in Wollongong and Shellharbour. When you talk about $2 billion in escape spending we need both our shopping centres to be as strong as they possibly can,” he said.
Mr Markovski said there was plenty to be positive about in the growth area of Shellharbour.
“It is probably one of the fastest growing suburban areas in Australia and you have got the marina coming up here. Our plan has always been Wollongong, Shellharbour and one other location. And this building project they are doing here is a massive commitment from Stockland. All of sudden they are opening three new restaurants here which I think is fantastic.”
“And I think the cinema being close is significant and I also think our takeaway business will be big as well. There is such a high residential population here.”
Mr Markovski said said between the two stores his family will have more than 100 employees this Spring.
“We set the national record (for hamburgers served in one day) in Wollongong on the first day and we will be giving it a good crack here,” he said.
“And Wollongong will definitely get another chance too.”
The 150 seat Grill’d Shellharbour will have a different look to Wollongong because the restaurant chain tries to make each outlet different by localising them to the area.
Another difference is Shellharbour will have a bar with tap beer as well and a lot more outdoor seating with good heating.
“There are 70 seats outside,” Mr Markovski said.
“People like alfresco. And we will be able to accommodate all weather.”
Mr Markovski is also looking for community groups in the Shellharbour area interested in being part of the Local Matters initiative where Grill’d gives a percentage of profits back to the community.
“All they need to do is go online and just fill out the form,” he said.
Mr Markovski’s son-in-law Rob Gorgievski will be the restaurant manager in Shellharbour while his son Allen Markovski remains the restaurant manager in Wollongong.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
