For 16 years you could guarantee when you walked into Joseph the Greengrocer’s you’d be met with a smile and a ‘how are you’ from Joseph Beutel.
Over those years he’s become a friend, a supporter and he said even a counsellor to many on Tamborine Mountain.
But the time has come for him to handover the keys to his shop.
“I have mixed emotions,” he said.
“I will enjoy time off but will miss the interactions with my customers that I have got to know over the last 16 years. They feel like family to me.
“I’ll be happy to spend a lot more time in the water being a surfer.
“The residents are happy for me, but they are sad to see me go. That’s the community spirit.”
Joesph bought the shop at the age of 40 and ran it with his father, Graeme Beutel.
It was a real family business with his two children, Zane and Asha, working in it as well as his partner Kylee who did the behind the scenes work – keeping the business running.
He is known for his generosity and support of the community.
Whenever a charity or local organisation needed vouchers for a raffle, Joseph would always offer to donate to them.
“Anyone that asks me to support them, I do,” he said, listing off numerous groups including the Garden Club, the Show Society, Zamia Theatre, the Bushrats and the Men’s Shed.
He was a regular supporter of many local organisations including Mountain Mates – joining them for their Dancing with a Celebrity events as well as their annual bush dances.
“It’s important to look after the community. It’s a friendly, welcoming community and appreciative of me being here. Sometimes I felt like I had the role of a counsellor,” he laughed.
“People would tell me their stories, their heartache and their highs and lows, when they have kids or their parents pass away. They open up to you as a greengrocer.
“It’s like a meeting place sometimes.”
His commitment to the community even influenced who he sold the business to.
Keen for it to remain in the hands of a local, he went against advice and only advertised it for sale on Tamborine Mountain.
Joseph said he was thrilled to be able to hand the shop over to chef Conor Holmes.
When the opportunity arose for Conor to buy the shop, he jumped at it.
“I’m looking forward to maintaining the warm, welcoming community atmosphere it’s become synonymous with,” Conor said.
