Iconic Aussie retailer Off Ya Tree in liquidation but Qld stores could be here to stay

A cult Aussie retailer who made its name selling bongs has been placed in liquidation with more than a dozen stores closing, but it might not be the end for its Queensland outlets.

Off Ya Tree in Surfers Paradise in 2006. Picture: Geoff Chambers

An Australian retail outlet which amassed a cult following over 40 years has been placed in liquidation, but its Queensland branches could be here to stay.

Off Ya Tree, which first opened its doors in Melbourne in 1978, was placed in liquidation on Thursday despite its overarching company, Thendro, claiming to turn over $30m just give years ago across more than 20 stores as well as online operations.

Off Ya Tree Brisbane CBD, Morayfield and Browns Plains all remain open despite stores across the country closing their doors for the final time this week.

Off Ya Tree stores are closing across the country, but some Queensland outlets could survive.

The city stores’s manager, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed with The Courier-Mail that the Queens St Mall store was to remain open despite the company’s liquidation.

“Yes, we will remain open, we have been bought out be another company and we will be keeping the Off Ya Tree signage for now,” he said.

“We are excited to stay open, definitely.”

Off Ya Tree made its name selling bongs but pivoted to clothing and piercing in recent years. Picture: Geoff Chambers

In recent years, the Melbourne-based business moved its model away from bongs and towards alternative clothing and piercing following nationwide legislation that prohibited the sale of drug paraphernalia.

The stores have been the subject of controversy over the years for the sale of so-called “synthetic cannabis” as well as DIY drug testing kits.

The company, which was founded in Victoria’s capital in the late 1970s, first began as a market stall before its founder Jim Kouts branched out into the retail world.

Dozens of Off Ya Tree stores could close. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The outlets now sell marijuana smoking devices under the guise of being “water pourers” or marked as suitable “for tobacco use only”.

On Wednesday, the company shut its Adelaide store will staff told just two hours before it was scheduled to close up.

The outlet’s manager took to Reddit to share how staff were left in the dark.

“We found out at lunchtime today that the store was closing permanently from 3pm,” the user wrote.

“Three other stores interstate closed today too, making I think six in total so far this year.”

“They’ve told us nothing, and I honestly doubt they will, but the store was losing massive amounts of money because we were just dead.