Contractors are busy working on the building at Harbour Bridge Marina today but come dinner time, they will not be eating in the building's restaurant, Phil's Place, owned by AC/DC drummer, Phil Rudd.
The restaurant closed suddenly in July this year, and a message remains on its website saying "closed until further notice."
Scaffolding has been erected around the building for the contractors to work on. The building includes the restaurant, and also a cafe owned by Mr Rudd, as well as the separate offices of Tauranga Boat Sales.
In July, a spokesperson for Mr Rudd, Karen Gravatt of Tauranga law firm Cooney Lees Morgan told the Bay of Plenty Times that the restaurant had simply closed for a few days in a quiet period. Today Karen Gravatt was unavailable for comment.
Restaurant guest Toni Keown from Tauranga, was told that the restaurant would reopen in the summer. Mrs. Keown who now lives in Kalgoorlie, Australia had made a booking with the restaurant for fifteen people for New Years Eve, and paid a $500 deposit to secure the private dining room. When she read of the restaurant closure on the Bay of Plenty Times website she contacted them by email to enquire about her booking.
"I was advised by the fourth party the restaurant would be reopening in summer so did I want to keep my booking or did I want my deposit refunded. I chose the refund option."
Locals are curious to know when the restaurant is re opening. This month on the restaurant's Facebook page, Bernina Britton requests an "official explanation for what is going to happen with the restaurant?
Another poster asks whether the restaurant will be open for Christmas. Chris Old posts "Please don't let the closure be permanent Phil, it's the coolest place in Tauranga."
Mr Rudd bought the venue in August 2011 and refurbished it extensively before opening it in October last year.
