Big Lobster restaurant to close doors
The restaurant and gift shop at the Big Lobster at Kingston South-East will cease to trade from the end of the month.
The lessee, Murray Pitt, reopened the restaurant at the iconic Larry the Lobster structure more than three years ago to provide an alternative for the community.
The Big Lobster is currently up for freehold sale.
Mr Pitt says he has decided to close, as it is financially not viable to run anymore.
"Without local support we find it very hard to survive," he said.
"We do only survive during the summer on the tourists and the travelling public."
He says it is the greatest unplanned stop on the highway but people just do not spend money anymore.
"The very, very small percentage of those that stop, take a break, have a look at the lobster and then come into the facility and purchase something," he said.
"That group is diminishing.
"We've found that people have got less money to spend, what use to be a $50 souvenir stop, now is maybe a coffee for mum and dad and an ice cream for the kids and away they go."
Source: ABC News, 27 June 2013
Council considers shell out costs for Big Lobster
The Kingston District Council will look at the costs involved in taking over the Big Lobster.
The owner of the lobster wants the council to take over the structure or to support a campaign for the community to buy the restaurant.
The business currently operating at it will cease to trade this weekend.
The council's CEO, Nick Brown, says the council is against the community buying it but will look into costs.
"The council has certainly acknowledged it is a very iconic structure state-wide and probably across the country," he said.
"It's a well known structure so we certainly wouldn't like to lose it but for council to take it on they really have to understand the full cost of maintaining it or potentially replacing it.
"They did instruct me to get some costs from an engineer to have a look at the, potentially look at the structure to bring it up to an acceptable standard or potentially rebuild the structure."
Source: ABC News, 28 June 2013
