Popular Campbelltown restaurant Zayt & Zaatar in shock closure

A well-loved eastern suburbs restaurant has unexpectedly shut down after eight years. Here’s why.

Zayt & Zaatar in Campbelltown has closed after eight years of operation. Picture: Supplied

A popular Lebanese restaurant in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs has closed after eight years of operation, as the owners say a dispute with landlords over the premises’ state of disrepair made their stay “untenable”.

Zayt & Zaatar on Lower North East Rd in Campbelltown closed unexpectedly in December of last year.

The restaurant, specialising in authentic Lebanese cuisine, grew from a small family business into a staple of the Adelaide food scene, with a second store now in West Lakes, and a pop-up store opening in Rundle St later this month.

At the time of the restaurant’s closure, Zayt & Zaatar said that the owner, Imad Choujaa, known as Chef Imad, had been in ill health, and made the decision to close the Campbelltown store and pass the ownership of the business to son Nedal.

“After many wonderful years of serving this community, my health has made it difficult for me to continue running the restaurant, and we have decided not to renew our lease,” Chef Imad said.

“This decision was not made lightly, as Zayt and Zaatar has been a significant part of my life and a reflection of our family’s passion for sharing authentic flavours and heartfelt hospitality.”

Nedal Choujaa told The Advertiser that his father had recently had surgery, and his condition put a “significant strain” on his ability to run the business.

The Advertiser can now reveal that a dispute with landlords over the condition of the Campbelltown location was a major factor in the Choujaa family’s decision to shut up shop.

Inside Zayt & Zaatar at Campbelltown. Picture: Supplied

The solicitor for the landlord said that Zayt & Zaatar was in default of its lease, and had not paid rent for a “substantial period”.

The Advertiser understands the landlord, through its solicitor, issued a breach notice to Zayt & Zaatar, which it allegedly did not respond to.

A notice of termination was then placed on the Campbelltown premises, but the solicitor told The Advertiser the tenants had already vacated the building.

The Advertiser was also told the investment company holding the lease on the building went into liquidation on December 18 of last year.

Nedal Choujaa said that Zayt & Zaatar experienced “numerous issues with the premises”, including complaints about the condition of the premises and concerns over adult businesses that set up in an adjoining shop.

Some of the savoury dishes at Zayt & Zaatar, Campbelltown. Picture: File

Sweet offerings at Zayt & Zaatar, Campbelltown. Picture: File

The addition of an alleged erotic massage parlour, which garnered an “undesirable reputation”, is also said to have deterred customers from visiting the restaurant.

Mr Choujaa said that Zayt & Zaatar had discussions with their landlord about these issues, but that there was never a resolution.

“The lack of action and maintenance by the landlord left us with no choice but to decide that enough was enough, and my father chose to close the restaurant, even though there were still five months left on the lease.”

A notice of termination was placed on the Campbelltown premises by solicitors representing the landlord.

Mr Choujaa said that the landlords exercised their right to issue a breach notice, but went on to say the situation arose from “longstanding frustrations” and the “untenable conditions of the building”.

The assets from the Campbelltown store have been moved to the new Rundle St location, which is expected to open by the end of January.

The solicitor declined to comment on claims of the Campbelltown premises being in disrepair.