John's Carvery in Hunter Street Mall closing down on February 28, 2023

But the mall's last-standing food court business, John's Carvery, is closing down and will serve its final customers on Tuesday.

Be Truong and her husband, known as 'John', have run the business for the past 28 years, but the restaurant existed long before that.

Back when the couple started in early 1995 John's Carvery was one of four businesses in the food court tucked away on the second floor just off the shopping strip.

Now it's the last one left.

Despite a broken escalator to contend with, the takeaway shop remains a popular go-to for hot chips, pork and gravy rolls and chicken schnitzels - a hidden gem that has survived the ups and downs of the mall's history and more recently COVID-19. They have even transitioned to offer delivery through Menulog.

"We've had great customers, loyal customers," Be said.

"Some have been coming for 28 years. Some come in two times a week or three times a week.

"There's a couple from Cardiff and when they come to the mall they come here to have the pork sandwich and a milkshake. They say 'John's Carvery make the best milkshake in Australia'.

"That's what has kept us going."

But with the mall's redevelopment looming, and some children and young grandchildren to spend time with, Be and John decided to call it a day.

"We're going to retire," Be said.

"It's a funny feeling.

"We feel happy to be able to spend time with children and grandchildren, but we also feed sad.

"We will miss our customers. Some of them are very upset.

"We want to thank them very much from the bottom of our hearts."

But they're not bitter. Be said she was supportive of the building being demolished to make way for the East End development.

"We feel it is good for Newcastle," she said. "It will be good to have some new faces in here."

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