The customers of Zippo’s Restaurant and Bar in Kyle Bay have slammed a decision to award a tender for the site to Venus Reception Centre.
The restaurant closed its doors on Sunday.
Zippo’s regular Karina McDougall said she was extremely disappointed with the decision.
‘’When I heard the news I was extremely disappointed and surprised,’’ she said.
‘’A lot of people are feeling a deep sense of sadness.’’
She was particularly disappointed with the lack of community consultation by Georges River Council.
‘’I hadn’t even heard about the tender,’’ she said.
‘’Had I known about it I would have voiced my support for Zippo’s.’’
Long term Zippo’s customer Angie Asciak-Gardis is also a strong supporter of Zippo’s.
‘’I feel Georges River Council once again has a lot of explaining to do. How does a business that has supported the community for so many years get told thanks for tendering you didn’t get it with no explanation as to why,’’ she said.
’’I know how much the place means to the community especially the elderly. It was a place where you could go with easy access and wonderful staff who were only to happy to help you.
‘’We were fortunate to have a place to take my mother who had been confined to a wheelchair. We took her to many places but she loved going to Zippo’s.
‘’Places like Zippo’s are hard to find that has such community spirit where friendships are made and families feel comfortable.
‘’It’s a shame to see Georges River Council and its new administration once again thinking of profits and not the community and not taking into account the effect on the locals in the area in closing a local business which brought people together.’’
Other customers have questioned the tender process and why Zippo’s were on a lease-to lease term for the past several years.
A Georges River Council spokeswoman said the tenders were assessed by a panel of qualified council officers.
‘’The panel assessed tenders against criteria including conformity with the tender document, lease arrangements, demonstrated relevant experience, WHS management and experience, and financial capacity.
‘’The panel noted that two of the four tenderers submitted non-conforming tenders.
‘’Zippo's had the same opportunities as all other tenderers during the tender process to provide details of any restorations or investment they wanted to undertake. ‘’
The owners behind Zippo’s did not want to comment publicly but said they were disappointed with the decision after seven years at the site on a lease-to-lease basis.
They are preparing to take a break before thinking about whether to open Zippo’s in another location.
