Weis restaurant owners heartbroken over decision to close iconic Queensland restaurant
Changing dining habits and an unsuccessful development application have led owners to make the decision to close the almost 50-year-old Weis Restaurant in Toowoomba.
John Pohlman believes the closure of the restaurant will leave a "big hole" in the Toowoomba restaurant scene. ( - ABC Southern Qld)
"We are heartbroken," general manager John Pohlman said.
"I've been coming to this restaurant all my life, even before we bought it."
Despite being an inland city, the seafood restaurant was one of Toowoomba's most well-known eating establishments.
Mr Pohlman says the deciding factor to close was a local council decision to knock back an application to erect a marquee to hold large functions.
"It's not viable for the restaurant to go on without hosting functions," he said.
Mr Pohlman believes changing trends in the restaurant have made it tough to survive.
"A lot more people dined out years ago," he said.
"Over the last seven or eight years restaurants have had to move towards holding functions to survive.
"The biggest thing with restaurants, especially us being a smorgasbord, is the cost of food.
"Unfortunately... everything has gone up in price."
The restaurant is situated in an historical home, and Mr Pohlman bought a 21-metre, air conditioned and carpeted marquee to sit on the grounds to host large functions.
"The marquee saga has been going on for roughly six to eight months," he explained.
"The council wasn't happy with the spot it was in at the back of the restaurant.
"The front of the restaurant is where they said they would like to see it.
"So we went through the normal processes and architect drawings and sound checks. It cost us $60,000. And we got a 'no'.
"We pleased the brides, but unfortunately we didn't please the council."
Toowoomba Regional Council released a statement about Weis' closure to the ABC attributed to Mayor Paul Antonio:
"Toowoomba Regional Council is saddened to hear of the impending closure of Weis, which has been one of Toowoomba's best known restaurants for many decades," the statement said.
"Council has remained willing to discuss reasonable options for the owners to operate a function centre on the site."
The long goodbye
The restaurant plans to close its doors in March.
"We want to give our staff enough time to find jobs, let people bring in gift vouchers, and we will honour all the weddings that are booked, even the ones that fall after we close the doors," Mr Pohlman said.
"It was a very sad decision to make.
"We're getting a lot of people saying 'why?', 'can't you stay open longer?'.
"We would love nothing more than to keep the doors open, but it is not viable without being able to host functions."
Mr Pohlman will turn his attention to the family nursery business instead.
"We have a couple of hundred staff and we would like to see that business expand out of Queensland, and go further afield," he said.
"I think it will take a long time to sink in. It feels a little like a bad dream, but we really appreciate the kind words we've been receiving.
"Our phones haven't stopped ringing."
Source : ABC Southern Queensland 28th January 2015
