BEENLEIGH’S Imperial Hotel will close its doors for good this year after 139 years of trading.
The Logan landmark will be torn down to make way for a railway upgrade in preparation for the 2032 Olympic games.
Venue manager Heaven Littlejohn has worked for the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, which owns the Imperial, for 18 years and said the pub is “a bit like a second home”.
“It’s a lot to take in, there’s a lot of history,” she said.
Staff were only recently notified of the closure date – 5 September – but will be relocated to different ALH venues in their current roles.
Nearby businesses will also be affected by the new rail line, including Beenleigh Butcher and a bicycle shop next door.
“There’s a whole heap of businesses there that have had to vacate some of them have relocated,” Ms Littlejohn said.
“Some of them haven’t because they just, they don’t have anywhere to go, and they just had to pretty much close up shop, which is really sad, because some of those businesses have been around for a really long time.”
The pub first opened in 1885. Although ownership and management has changed hands many times over the years, the pub’s iconic front facade has remained the same.
“Everyone knows the Imperial. It’s like a landmark really,” Ms Littlejohn said.
“We’ve had entertainment, we’ve had events here, birthdays, functions, beer nights, wedding receptions here.
“A lot has happened over the years that I’ve been here, and before ALH bought it, there are some really cool stories [about the pub] from people who have drank here for a really long time.”
On the final day of trading, the Imperial will be sent off with a lineup of entertainment and activities including a barbecue, pool and card games.
Ms Littlejohn said she hoped Imperial patrons would share stories and photos of the pub through the years.
“I’m wanting to get a lot of people to come in and share their story of, you know, happy, sad, whatever,” she said.
“If they’ve got pictures, bring them, because it’ll be really good to see what the pub looked like a really long time ago.
“I’m trying to get a slide together so that we can put it on the projector and reminisce.”
“It’s gonna be a big day with a lot of happy and a lot of sad,” she said. “There’s not much we can do about it, so just give the pub a good send off.
