Banh mi shop in Australia closes after 9 months

Mr Bill’s Vietnamese Canteen shut down last month at the Belmont Bowls Club, where the presence of the restaurant stirred up a large number of customers last year for the club.

“It’s devastating,” the club manager Shaynae Clark said, as quoted by Brisbane Times. She had tried unsuccessfully to persuade the owner, Loc Nguyen, to stay.

“We did try to see if he wanted to lessen his hours because he didn’t really like the nights either, but unfortunately, he’s still leaving us,” she said.

Loc named the canteen Mr Bill’s after “William”, the English name a university lecturer once gave him. The canteen was closed only on Tuesdays, but Nguyen said even those days were filled with errands, household chores and brief moments with his 11-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.

“Really, I’m working seven days a week,” he said, explaining that his wife dropped the children at school before spending her day sourcing fresh produce and completing the afternoon school run.

“I’d like to have a better balance before my son starts high school. Yes, you can work longer and make more money. But for now, I need to find better balance.”

Like many suburban Australian bowls clubs, the venue on Brisbane’s southside had struggled for years, facing competition from nearby Camp Hill Bowls Club, Pan Thai restaurant, and Carina Bowls Club, which offers Panchos Pizza.

Banh mi portions at Mr Bill’s Vietnamese Canteen in Carina, Australia. Photo courtesy of Instagram/ilenesfooddiary

That changed when 35-year-old Loc arrived, bringing with him a devoted following from his previous restaurant in Wakerley.

“He just gave the place life, really,” Clark said. “We were open, there were people everywhere, lots more barefoot bowls and families, and it just made it a really better atmosphere all around.”

While the club’s features remained unchanged, a younger crowd lined up outside. Patrons could enjoy authentic Vietnamese food alongside pints priced at bowls club rates.

“He definitely just helped us give new life to the place, and financially it helped us as well,” Clark said.

Loc also introduced Vietnamese cuisine to an older generation of bowlers. “A lot of our bowlers had never tried it before,” Clark said.

Belmont Services Bowls Club has encouraged patrons to continue visiting for drinks and functions even after the canteen moves on, while it searches for a new food operator, according to Camp Hill Today.

Among Loc’s loyal customers is Brendan Field. “I’ve known him for a long time – I’m one of his best customers,” Field said, embracing Loc at the counter as they said goodbye. “He’s just a character. He’s always happy to see you, and he remembers your name and your order.”

Loc plans to take a month-long holiday to rest, recharge and search for a new venue. He plans to open his own smaller restaurant again, hoping to achieve a better work-life balance for his young family.

Having established a large number of loyal customers, the new business is expected to take off without many challenges. Field said: “I’ll follow him wherever he goes.”