Manly Wharf: Three eateries to close down at weekend — while new restaurant opens its doors
Three high-profile eateries at a busy Sydney tourist hub are closing down at the weekend, while another restaurant has just started welcoming diners at the same site.
Manly
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Three of the best known eateries in Manly will close their doors for the last time on Sunday night.
El Camino Cantina, Sake Restaurant & Bar and Betty’s Burgers and Concrete Co. at Manly Wharf are giving up their long term leases to the wharf’s new owners, the Artemus Group.
The closures come as Artemus, the expanding Brisbane-based hospitality company that paid $80m for the long-term leasehold of the wharf in mid-2023, opened its own restaurant and bar — Felons Seafood — in the former The Bavarian bar premises at the wharf on Friday.
As part of a massive transformation of the wharf, it has already rebranded the Manly Wharf Bar, which it bought for $30m, to Felons Brewing Co.
Artemus is also redeveloping the site of the former Aldi supermarket into a microbrewery bar and diner and bought the Hugos Manly eatery, on the west side of the wharf, in December for $20m.
The Betty’s Burgers chain is owned by hospitality firm Retail Zoo, which also owns the Boost Juice and Salsas Fresh Mex. franchise chains.
El Camino and Sake, which were opened at the wharf in 2018, are owned by another industry giant, Hunter St Hospitality.
That group’s chief executive, Frank Tucker, told the Herald this week it was not shutting its outlets due to “flatter trading conditions”
“It was a commercial decision. Artemus made a wonderful offer,” Mr Tucker said. “We had 15 years left on the lease.”
It has been speculated that the space on the wharf’s first floor, used by El Camino and Sake, will be transformed into a function centre.
Betty’s Burgers stated that its Manly restaurant’s last day of trading was Saturday, June 28.
“Due to the upcoming redevelopment of Manly Wharf, unfortunately Betty’s Burgers are unable to continue operating at this location,” it said in a statement.
“While we’re sad to say goodbye, we’re so grateful for the support we’ve received and the memories we’ve made in Manly.
“We hope our guests will continue to enjoy their Betty’s favourites at any of our 19 other restaurants across Sydney.
In a statement, Artemus confirmed the closures, from June 30, of Sake, El Camino and Betty’s Burgers and thanked them for “being a part of the Manly Wharf community”.
“Over the past 12 months, Artemus Group has made enhancements to the wharf to improve safety, improve access and deliver a range of hospitality venues for the whole community to enjoy,” it stated.
“As part of our ongoing plans, we are exploring options that will deliver on our vision and respond to feedback from our guests.
“From July 1, there will be hoarding around key sites as we look to continue delivering on our vision of revitalising Manly Wharf and bringing the community exciting offerings.”
Artemus co-founder, Adam Flaskas, previously told this masthead that he was looking forward to “breathing new life” into the wharf precinct.
He said he wanted to make the area more inviting for locals, commuters and tourists by “revitalising the waterfront precinct into a premium hospitality destination, creating a thriving community and cultural hub for kids and families to grown-ups and everything in between”.
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