Ella Bache Benowa ‘permanently closed’ as franchisee Th1rt3en enters liquidation

Bosses of Australia’s largest beauty chain franchise say they are “deeply saddened” after one of their Gold Coast salons slipped into liquidation.

Bosses of Australia’s largest beauty chain franchise say they are “deeply saddened” after one of their Gold Coast salons slipped into liquidation, a fortnight after telling customers it was locked out amid “a lease problem”.

Liquidators were appointed to Th1rt3en, the company behind Ella Bache Benowa, on Thursday.

The store, at Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre, closed on June 8, telling customers on social media it was “temporarily closed due to a lease problem”.

“We ask for your patience at this difficult time while we navigate this problem to get back into the salon asap,” the post said.

“As we can’t get into the salon to answer any emails or calls please contact customer care for any immediate problems otherwise we will be back in touch as soon as we re-open.”

On June 28, Ella Bache Benowa was listed as “permanently closed” on Google.

The Benowa Ella Bache franchise is the latest in a string of closures for the brand which once boasted more than 150 salons nationwide.

The company behind Ella Bache Benowa is in liquidation.

A statement from Ella Bache’s head office said the brand had operated nationally for 70 years. “We were deeply saddened when Julie Drennan, our Franchise Partner made the difficult decision to close Ella Baché Benowa,” the statement said.

“Importantly, the closure of the independently owned and operated franchise salon does not impact our other salons located in Queensland and around Australia.

“Our business continues to thrive nationally. Queensland is Ella Baché’s largest market in which we run a franchise model.”

Th1rt3en is directed by Gold Coast woman Julie Drennan, whose shares are jointly held with Brian Drennan.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has contacted Ms Drennan and liquidators Grahame Ward and Edwin Narayan of Mackay Goodwin for comment.

Ella Bache has a presence in 36 David Jones department stores around Australia, as well as stand-alone franchised salons in almost every state but Tasmania and South Australia.

Ella Baché chief executive Pippa Hallas. Picture: Supplied

Multiple Ella Bache stores in Brisbane and Logan closed after the tax office stepped in to reclaim a debt.

Company EBQ Nominees, which ran salons at Logan Hyperdome, Chermside, Toowong and Calamvale, was wound up by the ATO in 2023.

The Chermside salon has since re-opened with new owners.

Companies behind salons at Beaumaris and Balwyn have called in liquidators in the past year, but the stores themselves remained open under new ownership.

Ella Bache at Dee Why in Sydney closed in March 2022 with the owner citing personal health issues.

Ella Bache said its salons were mindful of cost of living pressues and had priced their products accordingly.

“Positively, we also have a number of new franchise salons opening in the pipeline including Shell Harbour scheduled for August this year,” the statement said.