Carnivorous beachside diner the Meatery abruptly closed its doors on Wednesday, to make way for yet another restaurant in Wollongong’s City Beach building.
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To be called Steamers Bar and Grill, the new venue will be operated by the building’s new leaseholders, Jim Eddy and Caroline Brinsmead.
It will be the fourth to attempt success in the troubled seaside venue in 13 years.
After the Meatery’s closure was made public, Mr Eddy said he could not yet give details about the new bar and grill.
However, the well-known tourism operator – of the Jameroo Action Park empire – said he was confident of success.
“It’s a very exciting story, and the point of difference will be significant throughout the restaurant,” he said.
“We’re looking at changes to every aspect, and most of the changes we’ll be doing are not available in Wollongong at this stage.”
“With the location that it’s in it should be a world class precinct and that’s where we want to take it.”
Mr Eddy and Ms Brinsmead bought lease of the building from its developers, Tass and Michael Kollaras 12 months ago.
With the location that it’s in it should be a world class precinct and that’s where we want to take it.
- Jim Eddy
However, he said they had had a delayed settlement on the businesses inside, which settled on June 26.
“The function centre will continue to operate in its existing format, we’ll be making some minor changes as we go, but the major change is going to be to the restaurant,” Mr Eddy said.
He said work was already underway on a major interior renovation inside the former meatery, which will reopen with the new name, a new menu and mostly new staff.
The new leaseholders will also undertake external building works, installing new landscaping and lighting fixtures than will illuminate the jutting out “fins”” around the external walls.
The lights are designed to change colour to highlight different occasions; for instance, yellow for Australia Day, pink for breast cancer or red and green for Christmas.
Mr Eddy assured patrons that any vouchers from the Meatery would be honoured at his new restaurant.
The Kollaras family were given approval to build a new surf club and function centre by Wollongong City Council in early 2000, but suffered a number of setbacks meaning it was not completed until well into 2004.
The approval of the building was highlighted in NSW Parliament during Wollongong’s 2008 ICAC scandal.
The first restaurant occupier, Dunes, closed in 2007 after the Kollaras’s company locked them out because of a dispute over rent and the venue’s function operations.
A second venture Rocksalt Bar & Grill, which took up tenancy in 2008, closed its doors in January 2014 after going into administration.
The Kollaras family then opened the Meatery, but have now cut their ties with the whole venue.
According to title documents, Mr Eddy and Ms Brinsmead bought the long-term lease of the council-owned building for $6.8 million.
The building remains under council ownership, and there are 36.5 years remaining on the lease and 6.5 years on the agreed rent-free period.