Junior’s Deli is bringing its much-loved sandwiches to Treetops Plaza in Burleigh Waters
In excellent news for sandwich enthusiasts, Mudgeeraba favourite Junior’s Deli is spreading its wings. After almost five years of building a loyal following for its generously stacked, made-to-order sandwiches, specialty coffee and good old-fashioned hospitality, the neighbourhood favourite is preparing to open a second location at Treetops Plaza Shopping Centre. And while the original isn’t going anywhere, the new outpost will bring a few exciting additions to the table.
For Junior’s owner and founder John Draper, expansion has been on the cards for the better part of two years. Mudgeeraba provided the perfect starting point, somewhere to refine the offering, build relationships and become part of the local fabric. It’s a place where regulars have been coming since day one, and where John has watched families grow alongside the business. Now, he’s ready to take what makes Junior’s special to a new neighbourhood.
The Treetops location ticked plenty of boxes. Convenient parking, a central position between Burleigh and Robina, ample outdoor seating and the opportunity to introduce Junior’s to a whole new crowd. With room for approximately 50 to 70 diners, the new venue will be considerably larger than its Mudgeeraba sibling, while retaining the familiar design details, including classic subway tiles, warm timber finishes and a clean, contemporary aesthetic.
This time, however, John won’t be going it alone. He’s brought longtime friend and fellow hospitality professional Harrison Robbins into the business as a partner and operations manager. Harrison’s impressive resume includes stints at Parlour Coffee, Stable at Cornerstone in Currumbin, Burly Bar and, most recently, Mondrian Gold Coast.
The pair have known each other through the hospitality industry for years, and Harrison has been a Junior’s devotee since the beginning. When John floated the idea of joining forces, the decision was a relatively easy one.
“My dream was always to have something like Junior’s,” Harrison says with a laugh.
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The partnership was cemented over a beer at Rosella’s, where excellent decisions are regularly made. By Harrison’s account, he said yes immediately. Beyond their friendship, the pair share a similar outlook on food, service and the importance of making people feel welcome.
“The quality has always been there, and then the hospitality side of it, the customer relationship,” Harrison says of Junior’s. “When you’re walking in the door, you just feel almost like you’re at home.”
For John, bringing Harrison on board is about ensuring that the care and consistency that built the original deli’s reputation carry through to the second location.
“If I’m going to do something, I don’t want it to be half-assed,” he says.
Subscribe for updatesAs for the menu, expect the Junior’s DNA to remain firmly intact, albeit with a few new tricks up its sleeve. The guiding philosophy is summed up in the deli’s new tagline, classics for a reason.
“There’s a reason that they’re classics. There’s a reason we sell them. There’s a reason why people like them, because they’re good,” John explains.
“And if you do them in the best possible way you can, it invokes memory. It invokes a feeling of, ‘I’ve had that’, or ‘That was the best one I’ve had’.”
It’s an approach that has served Junior’s well, and one that will continue at Treetops. Around four or five favourites will make the move across, including the much-loved Philly in the Deli and the salad sandwich, alongside a selection of new creations exclusive to the location.
Coffee will also take on a bigger role at Treetops. John sees an opportunity to build a dedicated specialty coffee destination for locals, with an expanded bar serving beans from Marvell Street Coffee Roasters, alongside cold brews, cold foams and other specialty drinks. There are also plans for a couple of slushie machines dispensing rotating flavours, including coffee-based creations, plus sparkling iced teas made with house-prepared fruit syrups.
Like the original, sandwiches will be made to order, with quality and consistency remaining non-negotiable. But with a larger footprint, more seating and a stronger focus on drinks, Junior’s Deli at Treetops will offer a slightly different experience, one designed to suit everything from a quick morning coffee to a leisurely lunch with friends.
And if the loyal following at Mudgeeraba is anything to go by, Treetops locals are in for a treat.
Junior’s Deli is targeting an early-November opening. We’ll bring you a closer look inside when it’s ready to roll.
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