Hope Island restaurants gutted but employees still yet to be notified

Employees have been left confused and locals have been left empty-handed as three Hope Island restaurants are ordered into liquidation.

Randall McFie clears out the now empty restaurants Thursday morning.

THE company behind three Hope Island restaurants which closed suddenly this week have been ordered into liquidation by the Federal Court of Australia.

McGrath Nicol were yesterday appointed to wind-up Pacific Holdings Vanuatu Pty Ltd after an application by the Australia Taxation Office.

The sudden closure of Hope Island eateries New York New York, Manhattan on Hope and Tiffany’s Cafe and Cocktails has left up to 40 staff without work and owed months of superannuation.

The now closed Tiffanies restaurant at the Hope Island Shopping centre. Picture Mike Batterham

The winding-up order comes a day after businessman Randall McFie, the partner of Pacific Holdings Vanuatu owner Jo-Anne Crestani, was spotted removing furniture from the eateries.

McGrath Nicol partner Anthony Connelly said he would know more about the financial plight of the company in coming weeks.

The ATO lodged the winding-up application last month. Despite that, customers said they were purchasing gift vouchers to the eateries just last week.

Manhattan on Hope has been cleared out at Hope Island Shopping centre. Picture: Mike Batterham

“I bought a $100 voucher which they couldn’t give me on the day, saying they had run out and would email it to me — I have the receipt,” customer Samantha Riches said.

“When I didn’t get it by the next morning. I called and again two more times. They said they would inform me as soon as they were printed, but they closed,” she said.

Exterior pics of New York New York restaurant at the Hope Island Shoping Centre. Picture: Mike Batterham

A Manhattan on Hope employee said staff were still yet to be contacted about the closures.

“All the staff I talked to are in disbelief, most are struggling financially.