The city life is fast-paced and full of surprises and changes.

However, several changes could also lead to heartbreak among its community members.

A renowned cafe and community hub in one Aussie city recently had a curtain call, ending over a decade of service to the city.

Roxie's Garden has been a staple in the heart of Adelaide's CBD, serving up hearty meals for the locals.

However, it is set to close its doors after a remarkable 14-year journey.

The venue's final day of operation will be on 25 May.

Roxie's Garden's owner, Tom Skipper, wanted to give Roxie's Garden the send-off it deserved.

Roxie's Garden was a piece of nature in the middle of the city. Image Credit: Instagram/Roxie's Garden

He invited customers to join in the celebrations with good drinks, great music, and 'a party that won't be forgotten'.

The announcement garnered an outpouring of emotions, with patrons sharing their fond memories and expressing their sorrow.

'I am so sad this place is going. It has a lovely atmosphere and great pizzas. I have great memories of going there with my dad,' one person shared.

'What an amazing ride! Many memories have been made with friends over the years on this site! All the best!' Another added.

While news of the closure shocked patrons, Mr Skipper revealed that he knew about it early on.

'When Singaporean developer Wee Hur purchased our block, we knew change was coming,' Mr Skipper shared.

'While the cranker has been saved thanks to a landmark agreement, the reality of the redevelopment means that Roxie's must make way for a new student accommodation tower.'

As farewell messages flooded in, some patrons also voiced their frustration at the loss of cultural heritage.

'We really need a revolution of some sort to stop all these cretinous developers everywhere,' a comment read.

'Really sucks they are destroying such a lovely place with heritage,' another lamented.

As he further reflected on Roxie's Garden's legacy, Mr Skipper reminisced about the bar's evolution and impact.

'It's been a home, a playground, and a place where strangers became friends,' Mr Skipper said.

Roxie's Garden went through several transformations, from Little Miss Mexico to Crabshack and Superfish, each leaving an indelible mark on Adelaide's nightlife.

Read Mr Skipper's farewell message and invite here:

Source: @heartofroxies/Instagram​

'What started as an experiment became a legacy, and it wouldn't have been possible without you—the people who made it what it was,' Mr Skipper expressed.

The closure of Roxie's Garden raised questions about the values placed on community spaces.

Roxie's Garden may be closing, but the stories and experiences it fostered will live on in the hearts of locals.

Key Takeaways

• Roxie's Garden, a beloved bar in Adelaide's CBD, is set to close after 14 years.
• The venue has been a significant part of Adelaide's nightlife and is much-loved by locals.
• Owner Tom Skipper reflected on the journey of the venue and its impact on the community. Its final day of operations would be on 25 May.
• Several patrons expressed their frustration over the loss of cultural spaces to development.

Do you have any memories of Roxie's Garden? Do you have a bar or a restaurant that you miss so much? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments section below.

 

[Rosi Gordon]

Never heard of it but don't live in SA but if so many of these icon eateries are so loved people would still go there and they wouldn't have to shut. A lot of these places go down hill in either food or service once they get their clientele or their prices go through the roof.

 

[Kman]

Been in Radelaide for 27 years and I've never heard of it.

 

[Squizzy1]

Never heard of it but don't live in SA but if so many of these icon eateries are so loved people would still go there and they wouldn't have to shut. A lot of these places go down hill in either food or service once they get their clientele or their prices go through the roof.

If u bothered to read the article you would know it's being bulldozed for a student accommodation tower, there is no reason this iconic eatery (no one's ever heard of) can't move elsewhere. I think it's a slow news day.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Being in close proximity to Rundle Morgue, no wonder it is dying.

The dullest, deadest, dingiest dump in Australia. Adelaide, the world's premier snoozefest.

 

[Mrtnst]

If u bothered to read the article you would know it's being bulldozed for a student accommodation tower, there is no reason this iconic eatery (no one's ever heard of) can't move elsewhere. I think it's a slow news day.

A bar/pizzeria/snack bar in the beer garden of a historic pub (The Cranker a.k.a The Crown & Anchor est 1853), in the middle of the city center of Adelaide, with over 500 reviews @ an average of 4.3.

"no one's ever heard of"? - Hardly

"... move elsewhere" - How many other historic hotel beer gardens available for rent do you think there are in Adelaide city centre?

It's not just the service provided that makes eateries successful, the location and atmosphere are just as important.

 

[IAN3005]

Many, many, many more to come.

 

[Veggiepatch]

A bar/pizzeria/snack bar in the beer garden of a historic pub (The Cranker a.k.a The Crown & Anchor est 1853), in the middle of the city center of Adelaide, with over 500 reviews @ an average of 4.3.

Yelp - 3.9
Tripadvisor - 3.5
Facebook - 3.8

A bit different from Google.

Not to mention a solitary review on www.productreview.com.au of 1.0. Reason being that the bar staff giving half nips and charging for a full nip.

 

[bombadier]

Adelaide! where's Adelaide .

 

[Mrtnst]

Yelp - 3.9
Tripadvisor - 3.5
Facebook - 3.8

A bit different from Google.

Not to mention a solitary review on www.productreview.com.au of 1.0. Reason being that the bar staff giving half nips and charging for a full nip.

It's true that I only looked at Google Maps, and that there are other sites with a lower overall rating for the business.

However, my points in referring to the reviews was ¹that the business was not one "no one had heard of" and ²was "mostly reviewed favourably"

[Plus I don't have accounts on Yelp, TripAdvisor (TA) or Facebook (FB), so I'm inclined to stick with what I use myself]

Still having checked your sources I noticed that, those I was able to access, raised the number of people who took the time to review the business to 980.
Does say unheard-of to you?

Plus these reviews, overall, are still mostly favourable, noting 79% Recommend(ed) the bar (as Facebook calls 4 or 5 star ratings).

● 428 on FB, 70% Recommend
● 19 on TA, 68% Recommend
● 538 on Google Maps, 86% Recommend

When I tried Yelp it reported Roxie's Bar as CLOSED.

On chosing See more about this business and then See all reviews, on the more info page (under Roxie's recommended reviews heading) I was shown a page of reviews, which had the overall 3.9 rating you reported.

But when I saw that it had 597k reviews, I realise that I was looking at reviews of Yelp on Google Play.
On going back to the previous page and tapping on the heading it showed no reviews at all.

Is it possible that you also followed the wrong link?

 

[Suzanne rose]

If a restaurant is that good it would have tourists going from all over to eat there.

As it's in Adelaide I have never heard of it and I wonder how many who live in Adelaide have actually heard of it.

If a restruant or Cafe is that well known and good it wouldn't be closing even if the owner nolonger wanted it , then a new owner would snap it up

 

[IAN3005]

If a restaurant is that good it would have tourists going from all over to eat there.

As it's in Adelaide I have never heard of it and I wonder how many who live in Adelaide have actually heard of it.

If a restruant or Cafe is that well known and good it wouldn't be closing even if the owner nolonger wanted it , then a new owner would snap it up

Anyone going into the restaurant business in this environment needs their head read...unless you are taking home at least $250,000 after tax it is not worth the effort...you are at the beck and call of the landlord and the ever-rising rents and the costs of running a business.. I've been there.....

 

[Loubeauxarts]

If a restaurant is that good it would have tourists going from all over to eat there.

As it's in Adelaide I have never heard of it and I wonder how many who live in Adelaide have actually heard of it.

If a restruant or Cafe is that well known and good it wouldn't be closing even if the owner nolonger wanted it , then a new owner would snap it up

Tut Tut Suzanne, who didn't read the article......
It isn't closing because of lack of business but because the whole area was sold to developers from Singapore who are going to bulldoze it to build high-rise units - or some such.
I have to ask the question, why do governments allow overseas corporations to buy up what bit of history we have and let them tear it down and put up more concrete and glass monstrosities? Makes me think of Joni Mitchell's song, Big Yellow Taxi - They pave paradise and put up a parking lot....
BTW didn't mean to sound confrontational

 

[Suzanne rose]

Tut Tut Suzanne, who didn't read the article......
It isn't closing because of lack of business but because the whole area was sold to developers from Singapore who are going to bulldoze it to build high-rise units - or some such.
I have to ask the question, why do governments allow overseas corporations to buy up what bit of history we have and let them tear it down and put up more concrete and glass monstrosities? Makes me think of Joni Mitchell's song, Big Yellow Taxi - They pave paradise and put up a parking lot....
BTW didn't mean to sound confrontational

That's OK you didn't come across as confrontational.

But even if they were bought out and if they were that well known they would have just moved

 

[Jest]

for those that do not live in adelaidseand i am pleased i do not this beloved place is not of my concern. i am over BELOVED please find another word. the dictionary is full of them.

 

[Veggiepatch]

for those that do not live in adelaidseand i am pleased i do not this beloved place is not of my concern. i am over BELOVED please find another word. the dictionary is full of them.

Try an antonym for "beloved"

Like "despised" or "abhorrent".

 

[Chicky]

Another business going out of business. We have so many businesses closings of late not sure where it will end.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Another business going out of business. We have so many businesses closings of late not sure where it will end.

The sooner the better.

Then people will learn how to cook for themselves or starve. Time for a wakeup call for all these "time poor" gooses that think that going to a gym is more important than human sustenance.

 

[Chicky]

I agree with you on the food places, but I meant all the business closing there seems to be so many businesses closing their doors so many people out work.

 

[bombadier]

That's right, in our town we've got more eateries and fast food joints and coffee shops than u can poke a stick at, including 3 clubs and 6 pubs, and yet in one of our oldest centres in town,out of 15 places of businesses in the centre, only 6 are productive and one of those changes hands regularly. Another arcade has only 3 shops open out of 11, the main factor in town is the rent they ask and has been a problem way before lockdown and also 1 of our higher education institutions changed semesters a way back which took a lot of the students out of town more often and for longer breaks. You could shoot a rifle up main St mall after 2pm and wouldn't hit a shadow. Don't know answer, but council and local organisations keep trying new stuff. i.e we had 7 pubs 1 closed 2yrs ago, but with an aging population and less going out and spending who knows.