Debts of liquidated DeNiro’s Kitchen and Bar revealed in wake of arson attack at Hope Island

A five-figure debt has been revealed in the liquidation of a Hope Island Italian restaurant, which was the target of an arson attempt earlier this month.

A five-figure debt has been revealed in the liquidation of a Hope Island Italian restaurant, which was the target of an arson attempt earlier this month.

DeNiro’s Kitchen and Wine Bar was wound up in the Brisbane Supreme Court on April 2 for failing to pay a $5980 debt to Specialty Flooring Xtra at Underwood.

Liquidator Chris Cook of Worrells said more creditors of the company had come forward with suppliers and utility companies so far claiming more than $53,000.

Court documents said Specialty had supplied and installed flooring at the Hope Island premises in October and had not received payment.

DeNiro's Kitchen and Wine Bar at Hope Island is in liquidation.

DeNiro’s Kitchen and Wine Bar is solely directed by ex drag car champion John Cannuli, 49, a discharged bankrupt.

The premises made headlines earlier this month after a random man burst in, splashed petrol in the restaurant and attempted to light it before fleeing on a motorbike.

Police said they were yet to lay any charges over the incident but that investigations were continuing. No serious damage was done to the premises.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has contacted Mr Cannuli for comment.

DeNiro's at Hope Island is in liquidation.

John Cannuli.

Despite the court-ordered liquidation, DeNiro’s restaurant has continued to trade under a different company.

The liquidator said DeNiro’s had operated across two separate tenancies, with one part of the premises used as a bar area separate from the restaurant.

He said the liquidators had disclaimed tenancy of the bar section, as it was leased by the company in liquidation, leaving the remaining business unaffected.

Company records show Mr Cannuli created a new company, Ilunnac, with the registered business name DeNiro’s Cucina on November 1 last year – the day before the flooring company’s debt fell due.

Mr Cannuli is sole director and shareholder of Ilunnac, which is Cannuli spelled backwards.

The new company wasn’t registered for GST until six days after DeNiro’s Kitchen and Wine Bar went into liquidation.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr Cannuli, including in relation to the continuation of the restaurant nor setting up and running Ilunnac.

DeNiro's Restaurant at Hope Island is in liquidation.

Mr Cannuli is a former drag racer and his wife, Kirsten Tucker, is from a family of motor-heads.

Insolvency records show Mr Cannuli was bankrupt from January 2019 to March 2022 over a debt to Burleigh Heads concrete company Hy-tec Industries.

Ms Tucker is also a former bankrupt after being pursued over a tax debt in May 2020. She was discharged from bankruptcy in May 2023.