Restaurateurs Neil and Renee Cohen have put their iconic Manakau property – including the Quarter Acre Café Bistro – on the market.

The couple say that after nine years at Quarter Acre it’s time to focus on their other business venture, Manakau Market, just up the road.

“We’ve had nine great years at Quarter Acre in Manakau, after 2¹/2  years where the Quarter Acre Café began alongside the garden centre in Levin,” Neil says. “We always said we’d give it 10 years, so we’re due to refocus our energies.”

Quarter Acre was for many years Stefan’s Restaurant. The Cohens rebranded, renovated and revived the business to create one of the district’s few fine dining venues that offers evening meals and wine.

“With the new Ōtaki expressway due to open soon, the restaurant is in a great position as the first and last stop before the expressway,” Neil says. “Tens of thousands of vehicles pass by every day. And with big growth predicted for the Manakau area, Quarter Acre has huge potential.

“It’s entering a time when it’s really going to flourish. It just needs someone with the passion we had, to take it to a new level.”

He says Manakau Market also has huge potential, and he and Renee want to devote their efforts into building that just as they did with Quarter Acre.

“We’re looking forward to concentrating on just the one business, and being able to enjoy time with our two boys.”

The Quarter Acre property is being marketed by Kelly&Co Realty. It’s rurally zoned and sits on two titles comprising a total of 6102sq m. The fully licensed restaurant is 270sq m and with its  cottage garden, offers seating for 150 inside and out. The garden setting has attracted diners for decades.