Its famous customers have included Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt, but a Gold Coast cafe world-renowned for its expansive views of prime whale-watching seas is set to be demolished within weeks.
Cafe Dbar on top of the Point Danger cliffs overlooking Duranbah and Rainbow Bay beaches had humble beginnings in 1928 as tearooms frequented by servicemen.
'Brad who? Brad Pitt'
It has been a haunt of surfing greats including Joel Parkinson and Peter Townend.
Then there was that time eight years ago when Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt wandered in and placed an order.
It was just another day and another customer for Mr Archdeacon's daughter who served him.
"Brad Pitt came in one day and my daughter didn't even recognise his face," he said.
Mr Archdeacon has owned the cafe for nearly 15 years.
Over the decades it has been transformed from an ice-block stop on the way home from the beach to a trendy community nook serving gourmet food.
It also has a clothes shop and gallery showcasing local artists and musicians.
Demolition count down
"When we came in we knew that they had already ticked the boxes in terms of high-rise development," Mr Archdeacon said.
The cafe will soon be demolished to make way for a 36.5-metre-tall luxury residential development called Awaken.
It will tower over the nearby Point Danger lookout, which itself is due for redevelopment.
The 12-storey high-rise was approved by Gold Coast City Council in April, without public consultation because it satisfied height requirements.
Local Councillor Gail O'Neill had concerns.
Mr Archdeacon was circumspect.
"To stand still is great and it's very nostalgic to do that, but eventually you've got to move forward."
Hamburgers and humpbacks
Before final orders on Sunday, Kirra resident Carol Fox was one of those making a final sojourn to the first floor of the cafe, enjoying eggs benedict while whale watching.
"It's really sad, it's an iconic place," she said.
Mr Archdeacon conceded coronavirus and the reinstated Queensland border checkpoints had taken a toll.
"It's really knocked us around in Coolangatta," he said.
"It's not just my business, it's all the businesses here."
Before the pandemic restrictions, he estimated there could be up to a thousand people an hour in the cafe and lookout precinct.
"I think they feel if they get too close to the border, they'll be stopped."
The Archdeacons are going to enjoy a lengthy holiday before making a comeback in the new building.
He feels sombre about Sunday's closure, but Mr Archdeacon's lofty ambitions matched the new tower heights.
"We've got the cafe underneath as well as the first floor. We're going to create hopefully one of Queensland's greatest restaurants."
