Cronulla Pie Shop has been a popular eatery for residents and visitors to the beach since the early 1960s, but not for much longer.
New owners will close the shop at the end of April and, after a major renovation, reopen it a few weeks later as Rustic Ribs Cafe, serving up pizza, pasta and ribs.
Pie lovers need not despair as Yael’s Kitchen opened beneath Cronulla Cinemas in December, selling a range of pies as well as cakes.
Cronulla Pie Shop opened on the eastern side of Cronulla Street in 1963 and operated for 40 years before being replaced by Shakespeares Pies.
Shakespeares Pies closed after a few years, leaving Cronulla without a specialist pie shop until Cronulla Pie Shop reopened under a new owner on the western side of the mall.
The business has been acquired by Rita Galea, her partner Charlie Napeltpano and another business partner.
“We took over about four weeks ago and Greg [the previous owner] was there for a good eight years,” Ms Galea said.
“In four weeks, it is closing, and we are demolishing the inside, taking out everything including the kitchen, and starting afresh.”
Ms Galea said the new eatery would open throughout the day and at night.
“It will be more than a cafe,” she said.
“It will be licensed, and we will have Italian desserts.”
Ms Galea said she and Mr Napeltpano had a restaurant in Bali while living there for three years.
They had returned to Australia four years ago.
Chris Arnold, of Sylvania, is the franchise owner of Yael’s Kitchen, at the top of Cronulla mall,
Yael’s Kitchen is supplied by Yael’s Cakes of Distinction, which started in 1990 and has bakery at Botany.
Mr Arnold previously had the Yael’s Kitchen outlet in Boyle Street, Sutherland, but sold the franchise and opened the Cronulla shop.
“Ninety per cent of the people who walk in say it’s nice to finally have a cake shop in Cronulla,” Mr Arnold said.
“We didn’t know the pie shop was closing – we just saw a gap in the market.
“We are open seven days a week from 8am and close between 6pm and 8pm, and sometimes later on Friday and Saturday.”
Mr Arnold said it was a great location.
“The whole corner has had a makeover, with Seaside Dumplings and Souvlaki Bar next door to us,” he said.
