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The entrepreneur behind Justin Lane, one of the most recognisable and popular venues on the Gold Coast, has sold the business after seven years.
Adam Haralampou (pictured right) has owned and operated several of the Gold Coast's hottest venues including The Cavern, Mr Bengel and Harry's Steak Bistro and Bar.
Justin Lane, however, is undoubtedly the business which first shot Haralampou to stardom and earned the entrepreneur his stripes one of the Gold Coast's culinary kings.
Haralampou says the decision to part with Justin Lane was made with his other ventures in mind, particularly as Harry's Steak Bistro and Bar grows its paddock-to-plate offering.
"Over the next year, the vision is to grow the majority of our produce and evolve Harry's into a sustainable paddock-to-plate concept," says Haralampou.
"It's already headed in that direction but myself and the team will make it our mission."
Haralampou has already bought a small farm in the Hinterland where he currently grows salad products and herbs, but he plans to further expand vegetable production.
Reflecting on Justin Lane's success, Haralampou admits the business has come further than he thought possible.
"I always had a large vision for it, but I'm humbled by what we've achieved," he says.
"When we opened, it was still the time of the global financial crisis and a lot of people were in that doom-and-gloom mindset.
"Burleigh was also very different, with dining options including Tropicana, Fish Mongers and not much else. There were definitely no trendy spots and the bars extended to the pub and surf club."
Haralampou took out the Hospitality, Tourism & Events award at the 2015 Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur Awards, and has been instrumental in the transformation of Burleigh's food and nightlife scene.
While their names remain undisclosed, the new owners of Justin Lane hail from Melbourne where they own a string of successful hospitality venues.
Haralampou says the new owners have no current plans to alter the Justin Lane experience.
"It's nice for me to know they appreciate Justin Lane for what is," he says.
"They know everyone loves it and want to keep that momentum going. I wish the new owners the absolute best and I look forward to seeing Justin Lane continue to be an iconic venue on the Gold Coast."
Read more about the beginnings of Justin Lane and Haralampou's entrepreneurial journey:
- Justin Lane cooking up a storm
- Inside Justin Lane's rooftop transformation
- How Justin Lane snatched a slice of the fast food market
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