Liquidator called in to veteran Ella Bache franchise owner’s salons

Another well-known Brisbane beauty store, this time in the city’s biggest Westfield, has announced a ‘temporary’ closure, following in the tracks of three other outlets run by the same operator.

Another well-known Brisbane beauty store, this time in the city’s biggest Westfield shopping centre, has announced its temporary closure.

Ella Bache Chermside sent an email to customers Friday, July 28 announcing it would “temporarily” close amid media coverage around the closer of other sister salons.

“All future appointments at this stage are on hold until further notice,” the email read.

“If you currently have a valid gift voucher, please rest assure [sic] that they will be honoured.

“While the physical store will be closed, our other Brisbane locations and online store remain in operation.

“ … we are eager to welcome you back to our salon as soon as we reopen in the not too distant future.”

The news comes after owner of the group of well-known beauty and hair salons in Brisbane and Logan closed other outlets after the tax office stepped in to reclaim a debt.

On July 21 a court granted the Australian Taxation Office’s winding up application against EBQ Nominees Pty Ltd, trading as Ella Bache Logan Hyperdome, Ella Bache Chermside, Ella Bache Toowong, Ella Bache Calamvale and Pinnacle Hair.

The Hyperdome outlet posted on its Facebook page that its last day was on July 1.

The Toowong salon closed in January, 2021 due to Covid economic impacts, Pinnacle Hair at Calamvale Shopping Centre closed sometime after 2018 and Ella Bache Calamvale did not appear on Google or Facebook searches.

Ella Bache head office confirmed on July 28 that the Chermside salon had now also closed.

Earlier, Liquidator David Hambleton, of insolvency experts Rodgers Reidy, said it was not yet known if the Chermside store, which was still trading on July 25, was a viable entity.

Mr Hambleton said he aimed to quantify the remaining assets of EBQ and determine its future.

Ella Bache head office issued a statement earlier in the week stressing its 140 other, independently-owned salons and David Jones counters were trading as normal and that it was saddened by the closures.

“As a family business, Ella Bache has operated nationally for 70 years,’’ it said.

“We were deeply saddened when Roslyn Rudd, our franchise partner, made the difficult decision to close Ella Bache Hyperdome Salon after operating successfully for 19 years.

“Importantly, the closure of the independently owned and operated franchise salon does not

impact our other salons located in Queensland and around Australia.

“The decision Roslyn made was specific to those locations and was made to ensure the long-term sustainability of her overall business, with positive news that their remaining store in Chermside has a very loyal customer and network and continues to operate as normal.’’

The Logan Hyperdome outlet of franchise Ella Bache.

Ella Bache Logan Hyperdome posted the sad news on its Facebook.

“To all our valued clients, we are sadly advising that as our lease has finishing we had faced a terrible decision from the shopping centre to relocate or leave,’’ owner Roslyn posted.

“Financially, after all of the Covid impacts to our business these past years, we are unable to reinvest in a new salon.

“So we have finished at the Logan Hyperdome with the salon now closed.

“Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives these past 19 plus years.

“Our staff and I will always remember our shared memories of your visits some for so many, many years.

“Goodbye, good luck, we will miss you all.’’

She said gift vouchers could be redeemed through the Ella Bache network and referred queries to the franchise’s customer service line, 029 432 5050.

The owner was contacted for comment.

Devastated Hyperdome customers took to Facebook to express their best wishes and sadness.

Jessica Clarke said she had visited the salon for so many years her daughters also became customers.

Jenny Hart commented: “What sad news for staff and customers alike.’’

Ella Bache head office said Queensland was its largest market.

“Our Ella Bache network will honour any existing gift vouchers or credit owing at other Ella

Bache salons within our salon network,’’ they said.

“The pandemic and times of isolation had an adverse effect on our salons nationally, but since then salons have bounced back to pre-covid levels of growth.

“We also have a number of new franchise salons in Western Australia, Queensland and NSW in the pipeline which will be opening in the second half of 2023.’’