End of an ERA on Redcliffe Parade

ERA Bar and Grill will shut its doors on Redcliffe Parade for the last time early next month.

Owner Damion Beilby said trading conditions and “costs going through the roof” led to the difficult decision to close ERA on Saturday March 2.

“That will be our last day and night,” he said, “it will be with a heavy heart that we’ll close the doors.

“It was a difficult decision to make, but we’ve been looking at the numbers for some time, so we knew it was coming.

“We wanted to make sure we covered all the staff prior to the Christmas period, which probably cost us money, but I think it was the right thing to do.”

Damion and wife Shannen opened ERA Bar and Grill in late 2022 supporting local brewers and food producers.

They said at the time the plan was to “bring in assorted products and flavours that people hadn’t tried before or had the opportunity to try”.

But the tightening economy and high interest rates hit ERA and other businesses in the area, Mr Beilby said.

“The benefit others have is they have been running for longer than us and have a few more regulars than we do,” he said.

“With any business there is risk which we were aware of, but with increasing interest rates the numbers were below what we expected.

“I think the product we offered, if not the best on the peninsula, was pretty close.

“We support all the local breweries in Moreton Bay and around Brisbane and lot of the food we run, is from local producers.

“By doing that the costs are a little bit higher, but I think it is the right thing to do.”

More than 20 staff are employed at ERA and Mr Beilby said: “We’re trying to place them where we can.”

The venue, part of the old Moreton Bay Hotel once owned by Queensland Origin and Redcliffe Dolphins legend Arthur Beetson, will be available for let.

“We’ve not decided on our future, but this is a great spot and we’ll have good memories,” Mr Beilby said.

“We still have a couple more weeks for people to come down, grab a beer and feed and say goodbye to the staff.”