Construction is about to start on a new Mexican eatery, with a popular fast-food chain continuing to grow its presence on the Sunshine Coast.
Work will start on a Guzman Y Gomez restaurant in the rapidly growing Aura community within the next few weeks before its expected opening in mid-2026.
The 200sqm venue and drive-thru will be located on Aura Boulevard, opposite McDonald’s, at Baringa.
GYG chief development officer George Mandilis said the site offered “great access and visibility”.
“It also offers the community a fresh choice in fast food options.
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“The Baringa location will bring GYG’s 100 per cent clean, authentic, fresh, made-to-order Mexican food with added no preservatives, no artificial flavours, no added colours and no unacceptable additives.
“From its wide-ranging menu of fresh Mexican favourites such as burritos, tacos, bowls and nachos, GYG has always challenged what we know about traditional fast food, serving convenient, delicious, freshly prepared food that’s genuinely good for you.”
The business will employ about 85 people.
Locals indicated, via social media, that the venue will be well attended.
“Can’t wait for this,” Tanisha Kennedy said.
“GYG is going to crush it,” Ronnie Y Young added.
But not all were impressed.
Some residents were concerned about traffic congestion in the area, while others called for different fast-food options.
There are several other Guzman y Gomez venues on the Sunshine Coast, including at Birtinya, Caloundra, Buddina and Maroochydore.
A restaurant is also on the way to Glass House Mountains, with staff being hired for a mid-January opening, and GYG has identified a location in Sippy Downs for a new restaurant that could open in 2028.
Mr Mandilis indicated that the chain could continue its expansion on the Sunshine Coast.
“We are certainly targeting further opportunities, as we see potential in this area of Queensland,” he said.
Guzman y Gomez was founded in Sydney in 2006 by New Yorkers and childhood best friends Steven Marks and Robert Hazan.
There are more than 250 restaurants in Australia, Singapore, Japan and the United States, and the duo have a goal to open more than 30 restaurants a year globally.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
