Brisbane’s northside has lost a popular healthy eatery, with MarketCart closing its Kedron store just months before reaching its first anniversary. The restaurant, which specialised in fresh, locally sourced meals, opened on Gympie Road in February last year but ceased operations before Christmas.
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MarketCart was the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Andrew and Andrea Harcourt, who set out to offer busy locals a quick and healthy alternative to fast food. Their vision was to serve “real food, real fast,” making nutritious meals more accessible to the community.
The eatery gained a loyal following for its grab-and-go meals, all priced under $15. Customers particularly praised the menu’s breakfast burritos, salads, and toasties, which featured high-quality ingredients inspired by farmer’s market-style whole foods.
The hospitality industry has faced immense financial strain, and MarketCart was no exception. With the rising cost of living and continuous interest rate hikes, many small businesses are struggling to sustain operations, leading to difficult closures like this one.
The now-vacant site, located beside the Kedron Car Centre car-sales yard, features a 71-square-metre high-turnover kitchen and an alfresco deck. The modern, purpose-built facility, positioned on a high-traffic corner where over 75,000 vehicles pass daily, was listed for sale or lease last December.
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While the Kedron outlet has shut, MarketCart continues to operate at its two remaining locations—one at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Herston and another at the University of Queensland. Both stores remain open Monday to Friday.
The closure of the Kedron store reflects the growing challenges for small food businesses in today’s economic climate. Whether a new operator will take over the prime location or if it will remain vacant amid financial uncertainty remains an open question.
Published 12-February-2025