Long standing Buddina seafood restaurant to close
Portside Seafood Restaurant in Buddina is calling it a day after more than 30 years in operation.
The restaurant has been operating for 19 years under its current owner, but Kawana Waters Marina board of management said its lease is not being renewed.
"The board is concerned that the restaurant is not adequately servicing the needs of the marina community," the board said in a statement.
"The internal facilities are in need of urgent improvement to match the recent replacement and enhancement of the deck.
"The financial returns to marina members are well below market levels."
The board’s chairman, Alan Taylor, said the lessee had "declined to work with the marina to address any of these issues".
"The tenant has been made aware that at this stage we have no specific proposals," he said.
"We are prepared to work with a new operator to enhance the offering to the public."
Owners Carol and David Hicks said they wanted a three-year lease to be put in place and were "gutted" when they found out it wouldn’t be renewed.
"The marina asked us to change it into a tapas bar, profit share with them, and be open six days a week," Carol Hicks said.
"We weren't willing to do that. They came back to us and said they weren't going to renew the lease."
Sheridan Randall, 24th June 2019
