Yiros Shack Cafe closes its doors as Glenelg Jetty Rd foot traffic plummets
A beloved eatery has closed its doors after more than 30 years at Glenelg as Jetty Rd’s development continues to impact businesses.
A staple for many late-nighters on Glenelg’s Jetty Rd, the Yiros Shack Cafe — formerly Makis Yiros — is the latest business to crumble as a $40m development continues to deter visitors.
In October, owner Mash told The Advertiser his once popular yiros shop hadn’t made a profit in four months and he would be forced to shut the door “within the month”.
A month nearly to the day, the small business, which operated for more than 30 years, now joins the likes of Mr Potato, Loud Cow Bar and Grill, Boost Juice, and many others as the list of forced closures continues to grow.
The $40m Jetty Rd works — which include creating an entry statement at the Brighton Rd end, which is now complete, new traffic lights, fresh pavers, footpaths and road surface, a new shared zone with pedestrians on Durham St and stormwater upgrades — stretch 700m.
The speed limit will also be lowered to 30km/h along the busy street.
“This is terrible, terrible, terrible,” Yiros Shack Cafe owner Mash said in October. “This is supposed to be the busiest time.”
“It’s like everyone is still getting paid. The landlord is getting the rents paid, the council is getting the rents paid, the workers outside are getting their hours paid, people that work for me are getting their hours paid,” he said.
“I’m the only one, as a small-business owner, that’s really had all the hits and no one is offering any compensation.”
Mash said in the month leading up to the closure he was still paying about $10,700 monthly rent, alongside $17,000 in outgoings, while losing about 50 per cent in profits.
Yiros Shack Cafe was first started in 1992 by Makis Kallos, a Greek-born man who moved to Australia in the 1970s, saving up money from cutting lawns and working at Grecian BBY Hindley St until he was able to open his own store on Glynde Rd.
The store was then sold in 1989 and Mr Kallos got a job for himself at another popular Glenelg yiros spot that has since closed on Jetty Rd, Lambspit.
Mr Kallos ran the store from 1992 to 2017 when new owners stepped in, rebranding the store to the Yiros Shack Cafe.
Mash became the owner in August 2020.
The landmark Stamford Grand hotel is another beloved business adversely impacted by the major development, forced to partially close one of its flagship restaurants over the peak summer trading season.
The Promenade Restaurant will remain closed for lunch over the summer, with the hotel reporting a major dip in hotel bookings and general trade at its bars and restaurants.
It said revenue has fallen by 16 per cent at the Grand Bar on Moseley Square since the roadworks started, while room bookings are down 10 per cent for leisure travellers alone.
Earlier last month, 34-year-old business Montezuma’s Glenelg also said it was struggling to remain operational as road and tram closures played havoc on business.
Owner Julie Baker said the “mess” had caused weekly sales to plummet from about $22,000-$24,000, “and now it’s down to $7000 a week”.
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Originally published as Yiros Shack Cafe closes its doors as Glenelg Jetty Rd foot traffic plummets
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