The franchisees of the new Dominos Port Douglas outlet, which opens next week, say they have no plans to disrupt the town’s relaxed atmosphere. 

Fears that the arrival of the nationwide pizza chain would bring a ‘big-city’ feel to Port Douglas have been expressed by many commenters on the Newsport and its Facebook page since the outlet’s arrival was announced in November. 

Franchisees Vee Sharma and Tiffany Day both live in the Cairns region and said that profits from the store would stay in the area. 

“We want to support the local community here in Port Douglas with this business,” Mr Sharma said. 

“We will be introducing a locals-only VIP card that will allow locals access to better deals, and we will also be looking to support community fundraisers and campaigns.

“We hope it will all turn out very well.”

Dominos Port Douglas will be hiring between 10 and 15 workers from the community, a number which could rise if the store is successful. 

Dominos franchise consultant Adrian Lonergan said the Port Douglas Dominos would be the first in Far North Queensland to be laid out in the chain’s new interior style, which features earthy, warm textures like brick and wood as opposed to the more plastic-and-neon themes of earlier stores. 

Mr Lonergan also said that Dominos was not looking to bring a ‘big city vibe’ to Port Douglas. 

“I’ve been in Port Douglas for a while now and I’ve eaten at many of the restaurants and places around town - they have great food and our products are different to them. 

“I don’t believe Dominos Port Douglas will be taking business away from them.”

Mr Lonergan also added that Port Douglas’s high population of transient tourists meant that there were several thousand customers already familiar with the Dominos brand coming through town each week, and that the pizza outlet only offered more choice to consumers. 

What do you think?

Does the arrival of an outlet like Dominos spell death for Port Douglas’s relaxed seaside village atmosphere or is some more competition exactly what the town’s pizza scene needs?

Leave a comment below.