Rubi Red at Nobby Beach is for sale after exit of former chef, business partner Michael Lambie

The owner of a high-profile restaurant that was closed and put on the market has hit back at scathing claims from his former business partner and chef.

The owner of a high-profile restaurant that was closed and put on the market has hit back at scathing claims from his former business partner and chef.

Rubi Red Kitchen & Bar at Nobby Beach has been closed and advertised for sale, with its former chef calling co-owner Ayman Muhor a “bogan” and claiming the business was under-resourced.

Mr Muhor has hit back at the claims, saying he and co-owner Kelvin Chenery had operated successful hospitality businesses for more than 25 years.

He denied chef Michael Lambie’s claim the restaurant was under-resourced, saying the chef controlled staffing and had run it with over 70 per cent wage costs.

“How could any business be under staffed at those rates, or make a profit?” Mr Muhor said.

“Unfortunately in business sometimes partnerships do not work and this was one of those times.

“We wish Chef Michael all the best in his next business ventures while we will continue to focus on the success of Justin Lane.

Ayman Muhor. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We respect Chef Michael and his comments but we have been successful entrepreneurs for the past 25 here - including six years here on the Gold Coast.

“In business cashflow is always critical, as is making profit, a successful business cannot continue to operate week in week out on a loss.

“That just isn’t viable and where our relationship broke down.”

Mr Muhor said he was not a bogan, having had a private education and attaining a bachelor of commerce mastering in accounting and finance. He said Miss Mee, which had previously occupied the Rubi Red space, was a victim of the pandemic.

“I wish we kept it as Miss Mee because it would really be pumping now - but that’s past tense now.”

PREVIOUSLY: RESTAURANT CLOSED AFTER RIFT

A high-profile bar and restaurant has shut its doors and is being advertised for sale after a bitter falling out between business partners.

While the website for Rubi Red Kitchen & Bar at Nobby Beach says it’s open Saturday evenings and for functions, locals say it’s been closed every day for months.

The restaurant’s former shareholder and chef Michael Lambie, who’s since left the Gold Coast and returned to Melbourne, said he had poured as much as $1m into the venture.

He described his ex business partner as “just a bogan from Geelong” and said the foray was “the worst experience” of his life.

Rubi Red Kitchen and Bar at Nobby Beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Rubi Red was the third venture in two years launched by operators of Burleigh’s Justin Lane in the two-storey former home of celebrated Greek restaurant Hellenika.

The first attempt, a Mediterranean style eatery named Loki, closed within two months, while Southeast Asian-inspired Miss Mee lasted less than two years.

Ayman Muhor and partner Jenna Humill launching Miss Mee. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Rubi Red is run by company MAK Hospitality, directed by Ayman Muhor and Kelvin Chenery, who ploughed more than $1m into renovating the property after the 2020 exit of Hellenika.

Both are also directors of popular pizzeria Justin Lane which has eateries at Burleigh and Geelong.

While the pair have equal shareholdings in Justin Lane, Mr Muhor is majority holder of Rubi Red’s MAK Hospitality since the departure of previous business partner Michael Lambie.

Chef Mr Lambie, once mentored by Marco Pierre White, arrived on the Gold Coast last year after cultivating a stellar reputation for his hand in Lamaro’s Gastropub and The Stokehouse at St Kilda.

He had hoped to build on his repertoire and reputation with Rubi Red – but it didn’t pan out.

Rubi Red chef and co-owner Michael Lambie ahead of the restaurant’s launch last year. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“When we started it was great, but our relationship just didn’t work,” Mr Lambie said.

“I decided that, if they feel that they can do it better than me then they can.

“It was one of the worst experiences of my life.

“(Mr Muhor) is just a bogan from Geelong.”

The business is listed for sale with a “recent modern refurbishment, long lease” and described as “still operational”.

Kelvin Chenery is co-owner of Rubi Red and Justin Lane restaurants

Ayman Muhor at Justin Lane. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Lambie said the restaurant had been under-resourced.

“When you open a hospitality venue, you’ve got to nurture it, invest in it, promote it and go through the highs and lows until you get it right,” he said.

“I’m actually pretty sad that it ended this way because it could have been fantastic.”

Mr Lambie said he’d moved back to Melbourne where he was working on the launch of a new restaurant.

The property occupied by the business at 2235 Gold Coast Hwy is owned by Malouf Group Investments, directed by Gold Coaster Jordan Malouf.