The Peanut Eatery restaurant is set to reopen doors in the coming months with new owners at the helm.
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Questions over what would happen to the Bega venue have been answered by local businessman Mal Barnes, owner of well established pizza restaurant Mal's Pizza Bite and now new owner of The Peanut.
"I feel there's such a need for this business, because I knew how strong it was when they had it here, there were always people coming and it was always booked out," Mal said.
The Peanut Eatery, which used to be run by Katie Rao and Robert Cochrane, closed down suddenly in mid-February, much to the disappointment of the community.
Luckily - for all the regulars' sake - Mal bought into the business along with his wife Gina and three kids Alysha, Kaela and Jayden. With a plan to keep it just as it was.
"Robert and Katie did such a great job setting it up and they spent a fortune on it, so I don't want to change anything," Mal said.
Therefore the family run business will be running simultaneously with Mal's Pizza Bite, bringing back more eating out opportunities to the area.
Ironically, Mal had initially been planning to retire, but when he heard that Katie and Robert were selling their thriving business he decided to jump in and make an offer.
"I had a talk to Rob one day and came in here and met him and we agreed on a price straightaway," he said.
"It was pretty much a no brainer, really because there's a need for this business in Bega and I had the opportunity at the time to buy it, so why not?"
It was pretty much a no brainer, really because there's a need for this business in Bega and I had the opportunity at the time to to buy it, so why not?
- Mal's Pizza Bite - Malcolm Barnes
Mal said what he was most looking forward to with the business was to see the regulars coming back in, bringing their friends and family out for dinner.
"I just want to see people happy to get back in here, you know, and they can meet up with their friends and bring their family out for dinner. And that's what's so good about this business," he said.
Changes and additions
While much of the restaurant's design, business name and menu will stay the same under new ownership, a couple of fresh ideas were being considered.
"One thing we are going to do different, which there is a need for, is breakfasts on weekends," he said.
"We've had lots of people ask if we're going to do breakfast, especially on Sunday, as a lot of people like to catch up with friends for brunch and they've got to go to Tathra or Merimbula at this stage."
Another addition Mal and his family were excited to introduce was the potential for live music on Sundays for lunch.
"I've got a musician that travels down from Canberra every now and again to play live music on Sunday night at Mal's. So we're thinking of having music for Sunday lunch at The Peanut as well."
Some of the peanut pun ideas Mal has been tossing up include putting a tray filled with different flavoured nuts and peas on each table, as well as a dessert incorporating peanut flavours.
Mal's number one priority is supporting his workers
Of all the responsibilities that come with taking over a new business, Mal takes the handling of hiring new staff and supporting them to get regular shifts seriously.
"You've got to look after your staff, not only for their safety, but their hours and all of that, because people need that security nowadays," he said.
Mal has also been able to hire some of the staff who used to work for the previous owners, including one of the chefs.
That being said, he like many other businesses, remained on the hunt for more staff.
"I still need more staff, we need another chef, more kitchen hands and we'd like to hire an apprentice or two," Mal said.
Mal said he was hoping to open within the coming month or so.
I'm hoping to open before the end of May, but at this stage, it looks like it's gonna be the first week of June
- Mal's Pizza Bite owner - Malcolm Barnes
"I'm hoping to open before the end of May, but at this stage, it looks like it's gonna be the first week of June," he said.
Previous owner Katie Rao 'delighted' the business is staying in local hands
When asked how she felt about Mal and his family taking over the business, former owner Katie Rao said it was "really nice" to have someone local continue the business.
"When you sell a business as a local person, especially when you put so much time, effort, energy and research into what your community needs, it's really nice when someone with the same passion is able to continue that on," she said.
Ms Rao said she felt humbled when she found out the new owners would maintain much of the same design and way of running the business.
"I was shocked, actually, to hear how in love they were with what we'd created. Usually when someone takes on a business, they change the name so it's good to know they're going to carry on what we've done, and it's quite humbling really.
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