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Ze Pickle snaps up iconic former KFC site

Nick Hall

Decadent burger bar Ze Pickle has snapped up an iconic Sunshine Coast site, formerly the home of one of KFC’s longest serving outlets.

For over 30 years, the Sunshine Beach Rd site in Noosa Heads housed the chicken chain, but a changing of the guard has seen the heritage fast-food brand replaced with up-market millennial offering.

Since launching in 2012 on the Gold’s Coast emerging Burleigh Heads beachfront, Ze Pickle has fast-become a leader in the burger business. A focus on social media, craft beer and heart-attack inducing fare has helped the chain to amass a healthy legion of fans both online and in-store.

The latest Noosa Heads expansion has been secured through a 10-year lease, with two five-year options. The latest outlet brings Ze Pickle’s total number of stores to five and signals the chain’s first foray north of Brisbane.

Paul Butler, Ray White Commercial Noosa and Sunshine Coast North director marketed and leased the property, revealing that the 500sqm site was only up for lease due to a new KFC drive-through opening in Noosaville.

“We had strong interest in the property due to it being one of the only freehold opportunities available locally and it having strong street presence,” Butler said.

“This is a landmark, standalone site in Noosa Junction, and we wanted to make sure we could do it justice by bringing a quality and unique brand to Noosa Junction. Noosa Junction is home to some of Noosa’s most popular restaurant and bar venues and is prevalent with both locals and tourists.”

Ze Pickle model

While the Ze Pickle franchise expansion has been calculated and measured, the latest growth marks a significant step for the burger chain.

According to property consultant Louisa Blennerhassett, it had long been a goal for Ze Pickle  to break into the Sunshine Coast market, a move whcih provides the brand with an even spread of locations across South East Queensland.

“They have been looking for Sunshine Coast sites for some time and are aiming to open in the coming weeks,” Blennerhassett said.

“Known for their craft beers and inimitable selection of burgers and bar snacks, this will be Ze Pickle’s first Sunshine Coast location.”

The chain offers a full turn-key operation for anywhere between $350,000 and $500,000, with the latest Noosa Heads outlet being operated by a local.

“We were very pleased to be able to assist the owner, also a Noosa local, to secure a quality concept for the site,” Blennerhassett said.

“The restaurant will be open in time for the busy summer trade, and their signature style is sure to be popular.”