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Government shutting down local Manly business to make way for fast food chain
Local business owner Neil Jedid, operator of Wilson’s Boathouse is currently facing eviction. There are many articles available on the current situation, but the truth of the matter is that this local business is now being evicted after 23 years at the Manly waterfront.
The GoFundMe Cause
Wilson’s Boathouse are seeking help to raise funds for their legal proceedings to fight the injustice of their upcoming eviction notice.
The Battle Facing Wilson’s Boathouse
The saga started back in 2010 when the lease at the premises they have been operating from since 1998 came up for renewal. At the time, a number of commercial leases at the waterfront were up for renewal. Nothing was done about this by the caretaker government, although in 2011 Wilson’s was offered a 40-year lease. Fast forward to 2014, the leases of a number of local commercial properties were approved, with the exception of Wilson’s Boathouse. Between 2014 and 2019, owner Neil Jedid was advised by a local member of parliament that there was “nothing to worry about” and that “he was not going anywhere”. Neil believed this so much so, that when he was approached by land-owners The Department of Transport and Main Roads, to complete renovations on the property he did what was asked of him. In 2019 Neil invested $500,000 into renovations to the building on this land, this is in addition to the renovations in 2005 where he invested $700,000 into the building of the deck. The fact that this local business is now being evicted from a property that they have been operating from for the last 23 years, along with the investments into the premises to make way for a fast food chain is just unbelievable.
Neil states that this entire process has been conducted by the State Government, with no considerations of the local climate. To simply evict this award-winning restaurant, who are currently a finalist for this year’s “Best Formal Seafood Restaurant in Qld” to make way for a chain fish and chip shop seems absurd. Take a short drive along the waterfront at Wynnum/Manly and you will see a number of family owned fish and chip shops, so to threaten the livelihood of the staff at Wilson’s, along with these locally owned fish and chip shops to make way for a chain just seems to go against the culture of the local community.
As to why this has happened to Wilson’s Boathouse we don’t know. Considering the pledge by the Prime Minister to support and provide relief to commercial tenancies, how can the State Labour Government place this small business under the stress of an upcoming eviction in this current economic climate?
A Background on Wilson’s Boathouse
This year has been a difficult one for Neil Jedid, owner of Wilson’s Boathouse. On the 22nd March the COVID restrictions came into place which meant Neil needed to adapt his business in order to keep his 15 local employees. Within a few weeks, Wilson’s was operating a fully functional take away service, even hiring new staff to make deliveries throughout the local area. Now it’s October, and while some of the restrictions have eased meaning the restaurant can now operate their dining room, they continue to offer this takeaway service to the local community.
Wilson’s has been doing its best to stay open throughout the current COVID climate, functioning like a normal hospitality business and establishing plans for the upcoming Christmas period. This restaurant supports other locals, sourcing their seafood from local suppliers and giving back to the community. The restaurant has a number of active sponsorships including the Wynnum/Manly Junior Rugby League Club, the support of the Wynnum/Manly District Meals on Wheels, providing vouchers to Rosie’s – Friends on the Street, local school fete….the list goes on.
Neil has been operating this restaurant for the last 18 years of its 23-year history. Neil takes pride in being a Manly local, having raised his three children in the area and getting involved to be an active participant in the community.
Local business owner Neil Jedid, operator of Wilson’s Boathouse is currently facing eviction. There are many articles available on the current situation, but the truth of the matter is that this local business is now being evicted after 23 years at the Manly waterfront.
The GoFundMe Cause
Wilson’s Boathouse are seeking help to raise funds for their legal proceedings to fight the injustice of their upcoming eviction notice.
The Battle Facing Wilson’s Boathouse
The saga started back in 2010 when the lease at the premises they have been operating from since 1998 came up for renewal. At the time, a number of commercial leases at the waterfront were up for renewal. Nothing was done about this by the caretaker government, although in 2011 Wilson’s was offered a 40-year lease. Fast forward to 2014, the leases of a number of local commercial properties were approved, with the exception of Wilson’s Boathouse. Between 2014 and 2019, owner Neil Jedid was advised by a local member of parliament that there was “nothing to worry about” and that “he was not going anywhere”. Neil believed this so much so, that when he was approached by land-owners The Department of Transport and Main Roads, to complete renovations on the property he did what was asked of him. In 2019 Neil invested $500,000 into renovations to the building on this land, this is in addition to the renovations in 2005 where he invested $700,000 into the building of the deck. The fact that this local business is now being evicted from a property that they have been operating from for the last 23 years, along with the investments into the premises to make way for a fast food chain is just unbelievable.
Neil states that this entire process has been conducted by the State Government, with no considerations of the local climate. To simply evict this award-winning restaurant, who are currently a finalist for this year’s “Best Formal Seafood Restaurant in Qld” to make way for a chain fish and chip shop seems absurd. Take a short drive along the waterfront at Wynnum/Manly and you will see a number of family owned fish and chip shops, so to threaten the livelihood of the staff at Wilson’s, along with these locally owned fish and chip shops to make way for a chain just seems to go against the culture of the local community.
As to why this has happened to Wilson’s Boathouse we don’t know. Considering the pledge by the Prime Minister to support and provide relief to commercial tenancies, how can the State Labour Government place this small business under the stress of an upcoming eviction in this current economic climate?
A Background on Wilson’s Boathouse
This year has been a difficult one for Neil Jedid, owner of Wilson’s Boathouse. On the 22nd March the COVID restrictions came into place which meant Neil needed to adapt his business in order to keep his 15 local employees. Within a few weeks, Wilson’s was operating a fully functional take away service, even hiring new staff to make deliveries throughout the local area. Now it’s October, and while some of the restrictions have eased meaning the restaurant can now operate their dining room, they continue to offer this takeaway service to the local community.
Wilson’s has been doing its best to stay open throughout the current COVID climate, functioning like a normal hospitality business and establishing plans for the upcoming Christmas period. This restaurant supports other locals, sourcing their seafood from local suppliers and giving back to the community. The restaurant has a number of active sponsorships including the Wynnum/Manly Junior Rugby League Club, the support of the Wynnum/Manly District Meals on Wheels, providing vouchers to Rosie’s – Friends on the Street, local school fete….the list goes on.
Neil has been operating this restaurant for the last 18 years of its 23-year history. Neil takes pride in being a Manly local, having raised his three children in the area and getting involved to be an active participant in the community.
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Wilsons Boathouse
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Lytton QLD