Earlier this year Tasmanian bakery chain Banjo’s Bakery Cafe announced it was heading north, with a new store destined for Queensland’s Gold Coast.

By February work had begun on the Helensvale store, which would also be home to a drive-through. Now it has been announced the doors will officially open on October 2.

Franchisees Anthony and Donna Bosworth relocated from Hobart to the Sunshine State for the business, and said the business idea was initially part of their desire for a sea change.

“We wanted a complete sea change. We looked at numerous different activities to change our lifestyle. And one thing we kept doing every Saturday was going to Banjo’s for breakfast,” Anthony told The Gold Coast Bulletin.

“And then we kept seeing the advertisements for franchisees. We knew we liked it, we liked the product, we knew it was a family business.

“We wanted to work together, to do something we were together in. We looked at different franchising opportunities and landed with Banjo’s.”

Banjo’s has made a name for itself thanks to its unique pie creations that in the past have included spag bol, double cheeseburger, and chicken parmi pies.

Donna said all the bakery items would be made fresh onsite, with customer using the drive-through able to view the bakers at work while they wait for their orders.

“That will be an everyday process of making pies, sausage rolls, everything,” she said.

“The most popular [pie] that we’ve seen across the brand is the steak, bacon and cheese. We use King Island beef, so it always is good quality beef,” she said.

“People always come for the scallop pie.  But the two we’re most excited about is the cheeseburger pie and the chicken parmi pie.”