A much-loved restaurant in the heart of a Sunshine Coast town is closing down, amid plans to build a multi-storey apartment block in its place.
Maiori Pizza, at Nambour, will shut on April 25, to make way for a proposed five-storey development with 152 units on the corner of Currie and Bury streets.
Neighbouring cafe Small Change Espresso is also expected to be impacted.
The pizza venue was run by Antonio and Sarah Masella, who also own a restaurant at Peregian Springs.
The former explained why they were closing it and how they felt about the situation.
“The closure is due to redevelopment plans for the site, which are beyond our control,” he said.
“This will, of course, have an impact not only on us as owners, but also on our staff and the local community we’ve built relationships with over the past years. That said, we are doing everything we can to support our team through this transition.
“While it’s never easy to close a venue, we understand that growth and change are part of the evolution of a community. We’re grateful to have been part of Nambour’s journey.”
The couple, who moved from Sardinia to Australia in 2016, opened the restaurant in 2023. Although it was only open for a relatively short period of time, it was a hit among locals.
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“Maiori Pizzeria Nambour was our very first venue” Antonio said.
“It marked the beginning of our journey here on the Sunshine Coast, inspired by our passion for authentic Italian, Napoletana-style pizza and creating a place where people could come together and feel at home.
“Since opening, the response from the local community has been incredible.
“We’ve been warmly welcomed and supported from day one, and we’re proud to have built a loyal customer base.
“Our business has become known for its traditional 48-hour fermented dough, high-quality ingredients, and a genuine Italian dining experience.
“Our regular customers have been incredibly supportive since hearing the news about the closure.
“While many are understandably sad, the overwhelming response has been appreciation, encouragement, and love, which means a lot to us.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank the Nambour community for their incredible support, it truly means everything to us.”
Hundreds of locals have commented on the restaurant’s closure, on social media.
“One of Nambour’s greatest culinary assets.
“The best pizza I’ve ever experienced. Another loss for Nambour,” Mandy Snashell said.
“Another great business gone from Nambour,” Rusty Winker Bean said.
“Antonio and Sara, thanks for bringing your beautiful pizza to Nambour. My son still talks about the day Antonio gave him the dough to make his own pizza for breakfast and take home. You could see he was having a meltdown and it snapped him straight out of it,” Lachlan White said.
“This is sad indeed. You have become a much-loved (and needed) part of Nambour. I hope an alternative location is found in town,” Martha Pegg added.
“This is devastating. We are so sorry to lose Maiori: the world’s best pizza,” Christine West said.
The Masellas could open a restaurant in a new location.
“Looking ahead, our Peregian Springs venue remains open and continues to thrive,” Antonio said.
“We are also actively searching for a new location on the Sunshine Coast, as we are committed to staying local and continuing to grow.
One local, Adella Ysma Rutch, took to social media to ask them: “Why can’t you choose somewhere else in Nambour? If you’re on the hunt, choose here,” to which they replied “We’d absolutely love to stay in Nambour. We’re keeping an eye out for the right spot. Fingers crossed.”
It’s unknown when the planned development could be built. The application is being assessed by the Sunshine Coast Council.
A planning report submitted by Danya Cook Town Planning on behalf of ARM Property Investment Group Pty Ltd said the planned development could reach a maximum height of 19.7m.
“The proposed rooming accommodation is designed to address the growing need for safe and flexible housing for a diverse range of residents in need of secure private living spaces,” the report said.
The units would be over four levels of two buildings connected by common circulation areas and accessible via stairs and lifts. Shared facilities would include a 180sqm rooftop garden with shared kitchen and barbecue area, plus a 90sqm indoor gym.
The ground floor allows for two commercial tenancies, as well as infrastructure services and car parking.
Sunshine Coast News has reached out to Small Change Espresso.
