California Tacos Broadbeach closes, staff claim they are owed thousands
A popular taco restaurant at Broadbeach has “stopped trading”, as former staff members emerge with claims that up to 15 of them haven’t been paid.
Gold Coast
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A popular Gold Coast taco restaurant has “stopped trading”, as ex-staff claim up to 15 of them haven’t been paid.
California Tacos Broadbeach abruptly closed on October 21 after two years in Oasis Shopping Centre.
The overall California Tacos brand has distanced themselves from the Broadbeach location saying it is no longer part of the franchise.
On October 23, California Tacos Broadbeach director and Hope Island man Andrew John Lendrum, 54, texted staff claiming the closure was due to “terrible sales”.
“The last few days have been very difficult and I’ve been chasing as much advice as possible,” he texted.
“The sales over the weekend were terrible. So I have made the decision to stop trading.”
Mr Lendrum claimed he was trying to sell the business as “this is the only chance of getting everyone paid, including staff”.
“At this stage I don’t know what the timeframe or outcome for that will be,” he said.
“I’m doing everything I can to get a good resolution for everyone.”
California Tacos founder Ty Yturralde said Mr Lendrum “has had zero affiliation with California Tacos for the last four-plus months”, despite the Broadbeach site boasting brand signage.
The USA-born founder, 39, opened his first eatery at Burleigh in 2013 and expanded with outlets in Robina, Brisbane and Caloundra.
Ex-staffer Thea Dahlin, 20, a waitress and bartender at the store, claimed she was owed $1500 plus superannuation.
Ms Dahlin said she was “upset” after her boss’ message but wasn’t surprised by the closure.
“I knew the sales had been bad for a long time.”
Ms Dahlin claimed Mr Lendrum changed the menu “so everything was chicken instead of tacos” on October 17.
“He didn’t change the name, put up a new sign or update the website,” she said.
“People would come in asking for tacos and I had to tell everyone we no longer sold tacos.”
When Ms Dahlin first started at the Mexican restaurant on August 31, she said “everything seemed OK”.
She claims “red flags” early on, claiming she wasn’t paid on time and erratic rostering.
“I had to ask two times until I finally got paid two days later,” Ms Dahlin claimed.
“Our boss would ask us the night before if we could work the day after.
“I could never plan my weeks and he got upset when I asked for one weekend off.”
Ms Dahlin said she was living off her savings.
Another ex-cook at the restaurant for six months, Lea Carotenuto, 27, claims she was owed $3800 in wages and $6000 in superannuation, but said she had not heard from Mr Lendrum since he texted.
“He didn’t answer any of our texts about wages after that. I worked hard for him, a lot of hours.”
Ms Carotenuto, on the Gold Coast on a working holiday, plans to return to France.
She said all her ex-colleagues were from overseas — from Japan, Sweden, Ireland, USA and Chile — with language barriers making it harder for them to seek help.
“We didn’t know he didn’t pay our superannuation,” she said. “The system here is different from in our countries and nobody explained how it works.
“Some employees have contacted Fair Work and the ATO – but nothing has happened.
“My visa finishes next week and I’m going home, so I’m (speaking out) for the others who are staying.”
Ms Carotenuto claimed 15 staff were owed $40,000 between them, and suppliers were out of pocket.
“It’s a lot of money because we are here with no family and when he didn’t pay it made it hard to live,” she said.
“Rents and everything is so expensive so when these things happen it’s not cool.”
The Broadbeach restaurant was still listed on the California Tacos chain’s website on Thursday.
Its shares were held by another company, Infinity 1989, but that was deregistered on October 20.
Mr Lendrum wrote to an online group in early October, seeking an “experienced chef” for help with “the rollout of a new menu and concept at Broadbeach”.
California Tacos Broadbeach shares an ABN with two other business names – Wingman’s Hot Chicken and the G.O.A.T Debate – both registered this year.
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