Famous Table of Knowledge no more

But soon North Beach Kebabs - the Bourke St eatery that was unwillingly thrust into the national spotlight as the innocent setting of Wollongong's "table of knowledge" - will be no more.

A sign sticky-taped in the window this week declared: "Convenience Store Coming Soon".

Yesterday, the sign had been replaced by metal shelving against the glass in the entrance.

No dates were advertised as yet, but the Mercury understands the new shop could open in just a matter of weeks.

The previous owner, Michael Yaglipinar, is understood to have sold the family-run business, which was a fixture in North Wollongong for decades, after placing it on the market in late 2008.

Managing real estate agent for the store, Tony Rutty, said the eventual closure of the kebab shop was "a loss".

"There was a sense of community that Michael and [his father] brought to the place," he said. "They will be missed by me because I had a friendship there and they were lovely people to have as tenants and as neighbours."

Mr Rutty understood the new business would be a convenience store that would still sell coffee and, he hoped, newspapers.

The new owners could not be contacted about their future plans for the shop.

North Beach Kebabs became the focus of unwelcome attention in 2008 after it was revealed as the favoured meeting spot for developers, and former Wollongong town planner Beth Morgan.

Both were identified in the Independent Commission Against Corruption's inquiry into allegations of corruption affecting Wollongong City Council.

The so-called "table of knowledge" has since become a part of Wollongong's folklore.

It actually began years before as morning tradition for some of the city's movers and shakers who would catch up for a discussion over coffee.

It was the subject of a play based on ICAC transcripts and even has its own mock Twitter account.

ICAC has now closed its files on the development scandal widely acknowledged as one of the city's darkest chapters.