“The business, the space, doing the dining room, and our big function room, and delivering meals to the outside tables – it just got too much for him.”
Like many suburban Australian bowls clubs, the low-set, anachronistic venue on Brisbane’s southside had been struggling for survival for years, with added competition from nearby Camp Hill Bowls Club, which has city views and in-house Pan Thai restaurant, and Carina Bowls Club, with its Panchos Pizza offering.
That was until 35-year-old Nguyen arrived, bringing with him a cult following of customers dedicated to his authentic Vietnamese food 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.”
Inside Belmont Bowls Club where Mr Bill’s brought hordes of banh mi devotees.Credit: Marissa Calligeros
Despite its name, Belmont Bowls Club is located off Creek Road in Carina, next to the police station and opposite the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). Police officers from the neighbouring station, as well as Holland Park and Wynnum stations, were among Mr Bill’s regular customers.
The unpretentious elements of the club – blue, peacock-patterned carpet, formica tables adorned with tissue boxes for serviettes, plastic chairs, and cream-coloured bathrooms – remained, while new, young clientele queued out the door.
Customers could enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine and buy pints of beer at bowls club prices.
“He definitely just helped us give new life to the place, and financially it helped us as well,” Clark said.
The unpretentious Belmont Bowls Club.Credit: Marissa Calligeros
He also introduced an older generation of bowlers to Vietnamese cuisine. “A lot of our bowlers had never tried it before,” Clark said.
Brendan Field was among many devotees getting a Mr Bill’s fix on Monday (Nguyen had sold out of banh mi by 1pm).
Field spent Christmas in Port Macquarie but travelled back to Brisbane early to ensure he didn’t miss out.
Loc Nguyen serving Brendan Field on Monday afternoon.Credit: Marissa Calligeros
“I’ve known him for a long time – I’m one of his best customers,” Field said, while embracing Nguyen at the front counter.
“It’s the freshness of the pork,” he said.
But it’s more than the food, Field added, pointing to Nguyen.
“He’s just a character. He’s always happy to see you, and he remembers your name and your order.
“I’ll follow him wherever he goes.”
Loc Nguyen serving long-time customer Brendan Field on Monday afternoon.Credit: Marissa Calligeros
Other customers, including police officers from the neighbouring station, shook Nguyen’s hand and hugged him as they bid him farewell.
Some, including Cheryl Pierce, 76, Bianca Stubbs, 46, and Katrina Logan, 54, asked for photos.
Stubbs and her mother, Pierce, agreed Nguyen’s food was better than what they had eaten while holidaying in Vietnam.
“I would meet friends here every Monday. I would come from Wynnum, one from Thornlands and one from Camp Hill,” Pierce said.
“It’s his service and his personality and his food.”
Stubbs is such a fan she offered him a space at a shop she owns in Alexandra Hills.
Sadly, Clark fears the bowls club will return to being “very, very quiet” without Mr Bill’s.
“We’ll only have limited days we’ll be open again, mainly focusing on the bowls and our functions.”
She hopes to mount a campaign to find a new food vendor for the club, but fears a replacement will not draw in the crowds like Mr Bill’s.
“We’ve all gotten very close with all his customers, and we will miss them as well. We’re asking them to still pop in for a drink and come back and see us,” Clark said.
Loc Nguyen is thanked by a customer on Monday afternoon.Credit: Marissa Calligeros
Nguyen was already planning to take a month’s holiday in January. He will now use that time to rest, recharge, and start looking for a new location.
“I suspect it will take two to three months,” he said.
He is on the hunt for a place with a large, well-appointed kitchen and plenty of parking.
Mr Bill’s last day of trading will be Wednesday, New Year’s Eve.
Many customers told him on Monday they would return for their last Mr Bill’s banh mi on the final day of the year.
“We love you,” one woman said, as she waved goodbye.
“Thank you, Mr Bill, thank you.”
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