Every local business to shut its doors in 2024
Hospitality’s horror year in SA continues, with a popular city pub at risk of closing and a cinema set to close its doors after nearly 50 years.
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It’s been a brutal few months for SA businesses, with several closing their doors, selling up or pleading for support as the cost of living crisis continues to obliterate the hospitality industry.
From long-running nightclubs, acclaimed restaurants and beloved suburban cafes, Adelaide has taken a battering with more than 20 businesses in total closing their doors already this year, two selling up, one moving and others begging for customers.
It’s not just the CBD suffering, either, with closures dotting the state in the interactive map below.
Popular Rundle St pub at risk of closure
One of Adelaide’s most popular pubs, The Austral, faces potential closure as it faces a bitter legal row with its landlord over a lease dispute worth $100,000.
Cousins Brettski Stewart and Ian Stewart renovated the Adelaide institution in 2020 after signing a five-year term with “rights of renewal” with Austral Properties.
Now, four years later, the duo has instigated legal proceedings against their landlord after they found they were at risk of being kicked out.
Legal documents filed with the District Court claim the hotel owners sent a notice of renewal, in the required period of time, but the landlord says they never received it.
The landlord also claimed they were owed $87,158.41 for a period of time – but it was paid at a later date.
Ian Stewart said they had no intention of not renewing the lease after “making a lot of investment in it”, saying it would be “ludicrous” to leave now.
Murray Bridge cinema to close after almost 50 years
The only cinema in the state’s Murraylands region is set to close its doors after 47 years.
The Cameo Cinema in Murray Bridge will close down permanently from July 28 with its owners set to “step back”.
The cinema took to social media to make the announcement on Sunday, May 26.
“After a lot of thought and a heavy heart, Cameo Cinema Murray Bridge will be shutting its doors,” the statement said.
“After 47 years working in an industry that is traditionally busy over family/holiday times we are choosing to step back and enjoy these wholeheartedly.
“We wish to thank our community for all their support and encourage you to make the most of one more Cameo experience before we close.”
Cult cafe joins spate of hospo closures
Gilles Street cafe Paddy Barry’s will sadly be no more in the coming months as the owner reveals he’s been struggling to “be present” with family under the pressure of small business.
Owner Jimmy Barry, who took over the cafe formerly known as Sibling in 2021, shared the unfortunate news on Instagram on Friday with a candid message.
“After three incredible years, it brings sadness and relief to say we’re shutting our doors in the coming months. A decision that wasn’t easy to make,” Mr Barry wrote.
“Ultimately, family comes first and I want to be the best dad, partner, son, brother and friend I possibly can. With the pressure of small business, I’m finding it hard to be present. We’re still here for now so come get your fix (cauliflower toastie) while you still can.”
Known for brewing some of Adelaide’s best coffee, the cafe nestled in Adelaide’s south and named after the owner’s grandad has been a hit with locals for years.
It first opened as Sibling in 2018, with Mr Barry behind the coffee machine before taking over the space and rebranding in 2023.
An official closure date has yet to be announced.
Parkside burger bar no more
The team behind a popular Adelaide burger and brunch cafe has admitted it’s “feeling the pinch” as it closes its Unley Road eatery due to a large spike in rent.
Gang Gang, which started as a pop-up food truck before opening its Parkside location in late 2019, will shut its doors on June 16, it announced in a social media post.
Owner-operators Morgen and Nina Wynn-Hadinata said while it was a “hard decision” it was the right time to move on, and they would continue serving up burgers at their second bricks-and-mortar restaurant, 99 Gang Gang Social, on Hindley Street in the city.
Semaphore staple’s lease not renewed
The end has come for yet another Adelaide cafe.
Noonies At the Beach Cafe, on the Esplanade at Semaphore South, will shut its doors for the final time next Sunday as Port Adelaide Enfield Council ended its lease after 11 years.
But a council spokesperson said the kiosk “isn’t going anywhere”, would be revamped, and the decision was made last year.
The business announced its impending closure on social media on Thursday.
“Dear valued customers, it is with the deepest regret we inform you all that Noonies will be closing permanently,” they wrote.
“After 11 wonderful years of running Noonies, the council has made the decision not to renew our lease as they are looking to expand the area into something else.
“We wish to thank each and every one of our customers for their support of our small-owned business over the previous 11 years, it has been greatly appreciated.”
Beloved queer bar’s emotional announcement
My Lover Cindi, on Pirie St, will host a farewell weekend on May 31 and June 1, with its owner-operators Rachel Hosking and Kate Toone saying the “exorbitant costs” of running a nightclub left them with no other choice but to pull the pin.
“All good things must come to an end. The simple answer is that maintaining the exorbitant costs of a night-time venue has been near impossible for the whole three years and finally at this point we can no longer continue,” they said in a social media post.
It comes a few months are they told followers they were facing “extreme” venue challenges in a “vulnerable” Facebook post urging locals to help them “turn things around” by heading out and buying tickets to events if they could.
Sadly, the attempts to stay open were futile, and the bar will close on June 1.
In their announcement, Hosking and Toone shared their fears over the lack of accessible queer venues in Adelaide following the closure of their popular nightspot.
“We are filled with mixed emotions … heartbreak at the thought of not seeing your faces every weekend, concern at the hole this leaves in accessible queer options left on Kaurna Land, hope that one of you will pick up the baton and begin a new journey inspired by ours, elation thinking about the times we have shared and the meaning we have made of this life, and pride at the resilience, the joy and the solidarity that the Cindi’s community has showed over the last three years,” the pair wrote.
Mount Gambier coffee shop claims cafe scene is ‘saturated’
A popular coffee shop near Mount Gambier’s iconic Blue Lake said goodbye in April after three years in business.
Nestled in the hills, The Tuck Shop by Soul Projects became a popular pit-stop for people searching for food away from the city’s main street.
On April 17, owners, Kirby and Biddie Shearing announced they had made the “hard decision” to close full time operations at The Tuck Shop as of April 28.
Mr and Ms Shearing said their decision to close was in part due to the saturated cafe and coffee market currently present in Mount Gambier.
Award-winning chain blames rising costs for sudden closure
Breakfast burger bar chain Cheffy Chelby’s at Morphett Vale and Hallett Cove has closed its doors just over a year after devastated owner-operator Michelle Lowe was forced to pull the pin on her flagship Port Noarlunga eatery.
The building it was located in was declared derelict and unsafe by the local council in February 2023.
Ms Lowe said customers simply weren’t spending as much money as in the past – and the figures no longer added up, with soaring food costs meaning a small coffee should practically cost up to $8.
“Wages went up massively last year, our rent’s gone up, insurance has gone up, the cost of goods has gone up … as a whole our customers are just not coming and spending as much money and that’s totally understandable with their cost of living going up,” she said.
“I’ve fought and fought and fought and I don’t have the energy anymore. I’m devastated that I’ve put so much work into this but you can’t control everything. It is what it is.”
Beloved Norwood Italian restaurant saying goodbye
Acclaimed Italian restaurant Martini on the Parade will close its doors for the final time in May.
After almost two decades at the iconic location, owner and executive chef Larry Piscioneri said the “uncertain economic climate” left him with little choice but to sell the business.
Their last day of trade will be on Mother’s Day, May 12.
“It’s the right call to make,” he told The Advertiser.
Mr Piscioneri, 54, said consumer spending had been well down due to the cost of living crisis, and he estimated trade at Martini had fallen almost 50 per cent in the last year.
Business costs had also surged, he said.
Tourist hotspot shuts after over a decade
The owners of beloved regional SA restaurant Terroir Auburn in the Clare Valley are shutting down their business after almost 12 years.
In an emotional social media post, Dan and Annika Moss said the “extremely volatile and uncertain economic future” of the country was a big factor in their decision, saying political leaders have yet to “fully recognise” the serious issues crippling the state’s hospitality industry.
“We are just simply not willing to carry any debt into the rest of the year, and risk our young family’s future on a game that is impossible to win for small business owners in 2024.
“The issues facing the hospitality industry are yet to be fully recognised by those decision makers at the top,” the couple wrote.
The restaurant will be open until the end of May.
Central Market Plaza institution shutting after 28 years
A Central Market Plaza grocer — located on the fringe of the Adelaide Central Market — will close its doors at the end of April after nearly three decades.
Chinatown stalwart Kim Wang Supermarket is clearing its shelves over the next few weeks, to the devastation of loyal customers.
ARN radio personality Jennie Lenman posted the news on Facebook on April 2, revealing the family “has no plans to sell it, they’re just going to retire”.
Ms Lenman’s post has been flooded with messages lamenting the loss, with Facebook user Angelo Tullio calling the supermarket “part of the very fabric and character of the Central Market”.
“Awww no way!! Such a good shop. The markets will suffer its loss,” Molly Latooy said.
“A terrible loss, as it is by far the best Asian supermarket in Adelaide!” Felix Patrikeeff added.
Popular Aussie steakhouse quietly leaves Glenelg
Hog’s Breath Cafe Glenelg closed its doors for good on February 5, five years after it was first reported to be going into liquidation along with another franchise venue in Holden Hill.
The Jetty Rd restaurant was the last remaining of four SA locations of the franchise, with steakhouses previously located on Gouger St in the city and O’Connell St in North Adelaide.
Hog’s Breath Café is a national chain that started in Airlie Beach, Queensland, in July 1989 by Don Algie. The chain once boasted over 40 stores in four nations.
According to its website, it now has 27 across NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, WA and Queensland, with none in SA.
Last year, two NSW locations similarly stacked the chairs and switched off the fryers one last time, with cafes in Tuggerah and Coffs Harbour reportedly entering liquidation.
Suburban restaurant scrambling to stay open
The owner of an Italian restaurant in Adelaide’s east says he could be forced to close its doors in the near future as expenses skyrocket and his trade is cut in half.
Sandip Silwal, 30, said he’s doing everything he can to keep his eatery, Rusco & Brusco on Magill Rd, afloat but a significant downturn in business has him facing the prospect of shutting for good within weeks.
“I’m losing money every week at the moment. If things continue like this … I will unfortunately have to shut it down. Things are that bad,” he said.
“Everything is top notch, we don’t compromise on quality. We try our best to make a good meal and it’s still very hard to keep it running.
“I am opening and closing the place, I’m doing dishes … I’m doing everything I can to stay open. I’ve never been front of house, but now I’m doing everything.
“I’m pushing myself to the limit, but it’s do-or-die at the moment.”
Central Market Plaza favourite closes after 33 years
Bulk food store Whole + Some, formerly known as Goodies + Grains, took to social media to announce it would be holding a closing down sale over coming weeks.
The store was a Market favourite for its pick-and-mix-style wholefood and health food offerings.
Co-founder and owner Chris Martin said the $400m redevelopment of the Central Market Arcade and demolition of carpark space had impacted sales “significantly”, meaning he could no longer justify the cost of running the business.
“Our lease was up at the end of this month and I just couldn’t see myself doing this for another five years.
“It hasn’t just been us who have been impacted, it’s all traders and those around the Market.”
Bubble tea franchise closes after 15 months
A little more than a year after they poured their first brew, the Chatime franchise in Prospect will close its doors for good.
In a heartfelt letter posted inside the store, the owners announced their imminent closure and thanked customers.
“It has been our absolute pleasure being a part of this community over the past 15 months, and on behalf of our team we would like to sincerely thank you for your patronage and support,” the letter read.
“Speaking of our team, we couldn’t have made it as far as we did without the hard work, dedication and support we received from within.
“We were lucky to be blessed with an amazing young crew and we can’t wait to see what they get up to next – the future is bright if our team is any indication!”
Jetty Rd institution says goodbye
Restaurant and Glenelg institution Cardone’s has announced its closure, with its owners saying the long-lasting impact of the pandemic combined with rising business costs led to the “heartbreaking” decision.
The operators of the restaurant shared the news on social media, revealing their last day of trade will be Wednesday, March 6.
“It is with profound sadness & disbelief that we announce that our beautiful little restaurant Cardone’s is closing its doors,” they wrote.
“It is incredibly hard to find the words …. Cardone’s has been a huge part of the Glenelg landscape for such a long time.
“We are extremely proud of what our little restaurant has achieved over the years.”
‘Very very tough’: Cult coffee hotspot moves
Karma and Crow has announced a new co-sharing location for their business, after “feeling the pinch” and not renewing their lease.
The crew behind the Richmond Rd haunt have revealed they will be moving to the same space occupied by sister venue, microbrewery Yellow Matter, on Marion Rd, Brooklyn Park, in May, less than 1.5km away.
The businesses – owned by female-led hospitality group Sonic Yoni – will share the location, with Karma and Crow taking over during the day before trading as Yellow Matter at night.
“As you’re all aware and as we keep seeing everywhere, venues are having a very, very tough time right now and it isn’t feasible for us to remain in that building,” the Sonic Yoni group posted on social media three weeks ago.
More recently, the cafe explained their decision further, saying the timing was right for a “fresh start in fresh new digs”.
Popular cafe ‘shattered’ by shock closure
Strathalbyn cafe Hammer N Tongs has abruptly closed owing more than $400,000, citing “hurdle after hurdle” that have made it too hard to continue.
The owners said the decision was “made suddenly and has been extremely tough for us”.
“We are still trying to comprehend and are absolutely devastated,” they wrote of the business located in the former Commonwealth Bank building on Commercial Rd.
“We are so proud of what we have achieved in this short time. Going from a local bank to a successful buzzing cafe with night-life.”
They continued: “We knew starting a small business would be hard, unfortunately we opened two weeks before the peak of a pandemic, which made things even harder. “Since then, we have faced hurdle after hurdle with restrictions, road works and staffing. The start-up costs paired with ongoing pressures have become too much to continue, we never envisioned our journey ending like this and are shattered.”
‘Hospitality is a hard game’: Adelaide cafe shuts
The sister cafe of a popular western suburbs eatery closed its doors in February, with owners imploring people to support the state’s struggling hospitality industry.
The Little Banksia Tree in Plant 3 Bowden shut up shop just over eight months after it opened as a sibling venue to the award-winning Banksia Tree Cafe in Port Adelaide.
Its operators shared the sad news on social media, thanking everyone for their support during a difficult time.
“This is not quite the announcement that we had planned to be making but never the less, here it is,” the cafe’s owners said in a post on Facebook.
“Hospitality is a hard game and right now, it’s harder than ever. We want to thank every single person who came along to the magic little space that we have been calling home to Little Banksia over the past year, those who have liked and shared our posts, told their friends about us and left reviews.”
Messages of support have been pouring in, with many followers lamenting the “sad da” for local hospitality.
Iconic Italian restaurant closes after 25 years
One of Adelaide’s most iconic Italian restaurants, Enzo’s Ristorante, is closing after 25 years.
The restaurant will serve its final course on Saturday, May 4, with its legendary owner Enzo Fazzari cooking more than 750,000 Italian meals for celebrities, professional athletes and more.
Enzo’s has won multiple awards, including Excellence in Formal Italian Dining in 2017 and 2019 in SA, and was the one of the first Australia restaurants to be awarded the Ospitalita Italiana accreditation by the Italian Government for its authentic Italian dining experience.
Mr Fazzari said he was announcing the end of the era with a “heavy heart”.
“Tears may mark the end of this chapter, but it’s with gratitude and anticipation that I look forward to the future,” says Enzo.
“The legacy of Enzo’s will live on through the passion we’ve shared at the restaurant and the homes we now touch with our ready meals.”
Enzo’s home-ready meals business, led by his two sons Matthew and Alex, is now part of his next chapter, he said.
Ed Castle shuts two months after relaunch
One of Adelaide’s oldest pubs, the Edinburgh Castle on Currie St, shut its doors after reopening in December.
It was closed for more than five years, before its relaunch under new operators, Jatin Malhotra and Rohit Kapur.
But this week it fell into liquidation, with a source close to the owners saying high rent and the growing costs of running the business left them with no choice but to close.
“It’s really tough with the overheads – bills, electricity, gas – and they weren’t getting enough sales,” said the source, who claimed the business was up to $300,000 in debt.
“The margins are so tight … they just had to pull the pin.”
About $500,000 was spent to renovate the pub with two new bars and a revamped beer garden.
On Monday, Robert Naudi was appointed liquidator to wind up the venue, which had seven employees.
Beloved craft beer stalwarts in administration
Big Shed Brewing, which has been one of the leaders of the craft beer industry in South Australia for more than two decades, has been placed in administration, but the owners are working on a plan to save the business.
The company, founded by Craig Basford and Jason Harris in 2002 in the Barossa Valley, moved to Royal Park in 2013 and then to new, expanded premises on Old Port Rd, also in Royal Park, in 2019.
Mark Lieberenz and Anthony Phillips of Heard Phillips Lieberenz have been appointed as administrators of the company, and said there were high hopes for a positive outcome from the administration process, with a proposal to be put to creditors under which the business would trade on.
“The administrators are continuing to trade the business as normal and are working closely with the founders of the business to restructure the operations of the company and to come to terms with creditors,’’ the restructuring firm said in a statement.
Mr Lieberenz said: “we are open for business and look forward to continue brewing the full range of big shed beers and welcoming customers at the Big Shed”.
Popular Port Adelaide cafe’s sad announcement
Folklore Cafe overlooking the Port Adelaide River shut its doors permanently earlier this month after almost 10 years of trading.
“It’s with a very heavy heart that I have decided to close Folklore Cafe,” owner Anika Havey said in an emotional Facebook post.
“It’s been an incredible nine years and I feel very lucky to have been here for this long.”
The popular cafe served a range of dishes made from local and sustainable produce.
Ms Havey explained how difficult it was to reach the decision after making strong connections in the community.
“I never imagined I would make it this far, and would like to thank all my friends, family and loyal customers over the years to the bottom of my heart,” she said.
I’ve learnt that culture and community takes time, patience, care, and wholesome intention.”
Ms Havey said she will always look back on her journey at the cafe and the happy memories she made there.
Iconic country bakery shuts its doors amid shock claims
Morris Bakery on the Limestone Coast has closed its doors for good after almost 80 years of business, leaving locals concerned about the future of the town’s main street as yet another shop shuts.
Days later, it emerged a former employee allegedly embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the business, a director of the company has told a liquidator.
A SAPOL spokesperson confirmed a report had previously been made to police relating to an allegation of deception at a bakery at Naracoorte.
The matter is still under investigation.
Established in 1946, Morris Bakery in Naracoorte has been a family owned-and-operated staple of the Naracoorte and Limestone Coast community for almost 80 years until it closed its doors for the last time on February 5.
The business had been struggling for several years, with many locals sharing on social media its produce was no longer measuring up to the quality it once was.
During its prime – and in addition to making and selling goods from their Smith Street shop – Morris Bakery distributed their pastries, sweets and bread across the Limestone Coast and beyond the Victorian border, providing local businesses with wholesale products and providing catering to schools and football clubs.
Commonwealth Bank shuts Adelaide branch
One of the nation’s largest banking institutions will shut down an Adelaide CBD branch as part of its latest closures, with three outlets nationwide set to close their doors.
Commonwealth Bank’s Rundle Mall store will shut up shop on March 1, along with branches at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast and Coogee in Sydney.
More than 350 CBA branches have now closed over the past five years, with the bank blaming a drop in demand for in-person services at the stores.
“We regularly review our services across Australia to help inform decisions on where to open, renovate or upgrade branches, or in some instances where to close branches,” the bank’s regional general manager Karen Reid said.
“After a recent review, we made the difficult decision to permanently close our Rundle Mall Adelaide, Coolangatta and Coogee branches.”
The bank, which turned record net cash profits of $10bn in 2022-23, said customer usage had dropped by 47 per cent in five years at the Rundle Mall store.
Ms Reid said the company was working closely with impacted employees, with all of them to be redeployed to comparable roles within the organisation.
CBA recently completed a major refurbishment of its King William St branch, which is 700m from the Rundle Mall store.
Christies Beach costume shop for sale
One of South Australia’s most iconic costume shops is hitting the market for the first time in more than a decade.
Fancy That, owned by married couple Kate and Roger Billinghurst and Roger’s sister Nicky Bradley since 2011, will “let someone else take the reins and have some fun” after 13 years in charge of the much-loved Christies Beach shop.
Suffering from a degenerative health condition, Mrs Billinghurst said it was an emotional time for her.
“It is really emotional because I’ve worked here full-time the whole time and met an amazing amount of people,” the 43-year-old said. “I can’t really describe it in words. But I (need to) focus on my health.”
Mrs Billinghurst wants to assure her customers she – and her co-owners – have set the business up in a way that the new owners can come in and “continue our legacy”.
The Stag hits the market
The iconic city pub was put on the market by hospitality operators Big Easy Group in February.
The group took over the pub and the adjacent restaurant, now known as House of George, in 2018, transforming both venues after the previous owners fell into administration.
They are now looking for new operators to take over the pub and restaurant, which was revamped and renamed last year.
Big Easy Group director Oliver Brown said it was the right time to hand over the venue.
Other venues run by the Big Easy Group include east end bar NOLA, Bowden Brewing, Bandit Pizza & Wine at Hyde Park and Anchovy Bandit and Bottega Bandito in Prospect.
Red Square going out with a bang
The operators of Red Square on Hindley St have announced the club is closing on March 9 with a 24-hour non-stop farewell party.
Club management took to social media in February to reveal the shock closure after “22 record-breaking years”.
“The time has come to say goodbye to a Hindley St icon. Red Square will be closing its doors this March,” the club owners wrote on Facebook.
“The street has changed dramatically in recent times, and all good things must come to an end.
“Red Square has been at the very heart of Adelaide’s club scene for over two decades; hosting countless international acts and starting the careers of many local DJs and MCs.
“Thank you to every single one of you who came through these doors.”
Lost in a Forest’s sudden closure
One of the Adelaide Hills’ most popular restaurants closed “with a heavy heart” on New Year’s Day.
Cult pizza restaurant Lost In A Forest, in Uraidla, told Instagram followers it had been a “spectacular ride with many ups and a few awful downs”.
“There aren’t enough words or photos to encapsulate the legacy we built over those years,” the owners wrote.
“A legacy of great pizzas, delicious local vin and loud no apologies 80s tunes.”
The restaurant and wine bar – renowned for its wood oven-fired pizza – is housed inside an old church in Uraidla’s main street, which was placed on the market late last year.
St Stephens Church, which was built in 1892, is still for sale with a price range from between $1.65m to $1.8m.
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