Miss Clawdy's features cuisine and decor reminiscent of America's southern and central states. Photo / Supplied
A colourful bar-restaurant business operating from leased premises in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter near the waterfront is now on the market.
Miss Clawdy, a North Wharf establishment at T6/12 Jellicoe St, is well known for its cuisine and decor evoking southern and central America, and is being sold by LINK Business broker Nick Giles.
"This very cool venue is not insignificant in size, having room for 91 seated diners inside; 39 outside and additional space for 12 seated or 25 standing in the impressive bar area," says Giles.
"The decor has the laid-back feel of old Louisiana and the busy open kitchen is a real focal point for diners as they enter the premises. Food ranges from po'boys or Louisiana sandwiches; and jambalaya with Creole butter to delicious key-lime pie.
"The 'look' here is gorgeous — with hand-made patterns and vibrant colours on the walls, plus hand-painted floors and plants that peek through the cracks in the woodwork. It's all reminiscent of old southern Mississippi.
Inspired by a 1952 New Orleans hit single, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, since opening in 2013 the eatery has become one of the 'go-to' places on North Wharf, he says.
"The kitchen is a flurry of hot plates, fresh flavours and amazing aromas. Dishes are designed for sharing and are big on flavour. The team welcomes people dining alone through to larger groups; with one table seating 15."
Miss Clawdy is available at what Giles describes as: "the exceptional price of $925,000. The generous lease to 2031 alone makes this a valuable proposition."
"Sales are approaching $2m per annum and there is huge scope here, with the ongoing development of this important area, to further grow this figure. Wynyard Quarter is one of the prime growth sites in the Auckland Region with many blue chip companies moving into the area; the nearby construction of the five-star Hyatt Hotel underway, and numerous new apartment buildings".
Part of a popular strip of restaurants and bars to the rear of Wynyard Quarter, Miss Clawdy's neighbours include Baduzzi, Thai Street, 16 Tun and ASB's stunning new Head Quarters.
"It really stands out as a fun place to visit. The busy open kitchen is a real focal point for diners as they enter the premises. While not huge by commercial kitchen standards, it is extremely efficient and works perfectly for this business.
"The restaurant has been designed by Cheshire Architects and the fit-out is excellent. From the moment diners walk through the doors there's no doubt that they're entering a premium hospitality business."
Miss Clawdy has a well-defined brand and social media presence with over 21,000 Facebook followers. "Miss Clawdy is a concept that could quite easily be replicated through the country. It has great systems in place and the offering is very straight-forward."
"While Wynyard Quarter has experienced challenges due to major construction in the area over the last couple of years, it is now an extremely important part of the Auckland Hospitality scene. With the benefit of present and future developments, plus the impending America's Cup there's every indication businesses here will have a strong future," says Giles.
"By the time Wynyard Quarter is fully developed in 2030, it will be home to around 3000 residents and 25,000 workers."
At a glance:
Address: T6/12 Jellicoe St, Auckland Specialising in: Cuisine and decor of the American South. Full time staff, 13, part time staff six. Floor space: About 212sq m, plus 12sq m outside dining area. Current lease term: 12 years commencing August 1 2013. One right of renewal, of six years. Average weekly sales: $35,633. Tangible assets: $450,000. Intangible assets: $475,000. Asking price: $925,000.