Coronavirus pressures claim one of Brisbane’s most popular restaurants
A devastated Claire Parviz has bowed to coronavirus pressures, placing her beloved Brisbane restaurant Spaghetti House Trattoria into voluntary administration. But the respected hospitality figure says the popular venue will survive.
QLD News
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One of Brisbane’s most popular restaurants has been placed into voluntary administration as its hardworking owner bows to coronavirus pressures.
Claire Parviz, a respected and generous hospitality figure who gave away free meals to the needy during lockdown, relinquished her beloved Spaghetti House Trattoria into the hands of insolvency firm Hamilton Murphy at noon on Wednesday.
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It comes two weeks after Ms Parviz pulled the pin on her CJ’s Pasta and cafe business in West End.
“It’s been a rough few weeks, having lost one business and now having to make this tough decision but I am confident I will still be here in a month’s time as I am getting the right advice to restructure,” she said.
“I’m very committed and passionate, and loyal and grateful to the network of people around me, and for diners, it will be business as usual. No-one will notice anything different.”
Ms Parviz said she was determined to “support my suppliers moving forward in any way I can”.
When coronavirus restrictions shuttered restaurants on March 23, she pivoted immediately with a takeaway menu and personally delivered orders to loyal clientele across Brisbane.
To staff she’d had to stand down, many of whom were internationals on 457 visas and unable to access JobKeeper or JobSeeker payments, she offered free meals.
She also delivered lasagne to people quarantined in the nearby Rydges Hotel and joined esteemed local chefs in a grassroots campaign to feed medical workers on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19.
Ms Parviz, 55, opened Spaghetti House in March 2015 on the corner of Little Stanley and Grey Streets, and expanded into a neighbouring site two years ago.
The rustic 150-seater Italian eatery is a favourite of celebrities including Margaux and Corey Parker, Naomi Price and Luke Kennedy, Lee Carseldine and the band Sheppard.
And until COVID shuttered theatres and concert halls, it was also popular for a meal before and after performances at QPAC.
Prior to the pandemic, Ms Parviz employed 50 staff; during the height of lockdown, just two, a chef and a supervisor both sponsored from Nepal.
“As soon as the shutdown happened, I went into survival mode, thinking ‘OK, how are we going to get through this?’ and taking one day, one hour, at a time.
“I’ve worked too hard to give up now and I’m going to keep on fighting. I have professionals in place to help me get back on track and I’ll still be turning up to work as I always have.”
Ms Parviz, who began her hospitality career when she was 18, said Hamilton Murphy would be the temporary manager of the restaurant for the next 28-45 days, and “hopefully after that, all will be well”.
The Spaghetti House Trattoria is open from 11.30am until late every day, with a full menu including its signature Moreton Bay big gnocchi.