‘Heavy hearts’: Popular restaurant Epocha to close

The Australian hospitality industry continues to be hit with another restaurant that had operated for years set to shut for good.

A popular Melbourne restaurant has announced its doors are closing permanently with ownership blaming the difficult economic climate.

Epocha, based in Carlton, revealed it would run its last service in September after 12 years of operating.

It comes at a time where the hospitality industry is struggling with a warning issued just a few months ago that one in 13 hospitality businesses across Australia are facing going bust as the industry grapples with the crippling cost of living crisis.

But Epocha’s owners also said it had no choice but to shut down as the restaurant premises were also recently sold.

That’s an issue that has also plagued other restaurants with Sydney based Bistrot 916 revealing in May it was being forced to close due to an impending “wrecking ball” – with its site set to be demolished.

Epocha restaurant in Carlton is shutting down after 12 years. Picture: Supplied

Epocha said the decision to close was made with a “mix of heavy hearts and deep gratitude”.

“Epocha will be closing its doors after 12 remarkable years of service. Our last day of service will be September 14,” the owners announced.

“Since opening in 2012, Epocha has been more than just a restaurant. It has been a place where we’ve seen all the things humans go through.

“We’re shared countless celebrations, milestones and every day moments with you. We’ve served, loved, hugged and laughed. We’ve celebrated lives, birthdays and cried with at the loss of loved ones.”

It is another Melbourne institution to close. Picture: Facebook

Last service will be September Picture: Facebook

Other Melbourne restaurants have also announced their closures after operating for dozens of years.

Last month, up-market eatery Gauge was shuttered due to a perfect storm of difficulty in hiring staff and increased food costs, while Carlton-based The Olive Jar closed after 40 years in May.

Meanwhile, TV chef Adrian Richardson announced his restaurant La Luna would serve its last meals on August 3, admitting Melbourne was a “tough city” in which to do business.

After 18 years in business, Melbourne Asian fusion restaurant Gingerboy shut down in April blaming “market pressures since Covid lockdowns”.

In May, popular Sydney restaurant Lucky Kwong, headed by iconic chef Kylie Kwong, announced it was shutting down.

It’s a tough time for the Australian hospitality scene. Picture: Supplied

Other hospitality outfits have simply collapsed.

Botswana Butchery chain which operated as a high-end steak restaurant across three cities went bust, with debts of more than $23 million and more than 200 staff sacked.

One of the last pillars of an award-winning Queensland chef’s hospitality empire went bust, just a month after seven other sister venues collapsed.

Cuisinier Australis Pty Ltd trading as Montrachet called in administrators in July.

A number of other restaurants have joined the growing pile of corpses, including Japanese chain Sushi Bay, Elements Bar and Grill and three stores in Sydney restaurant franchise Bondi Pizza.

Originally published as ‘Heavy hearts’: Popular restaurant Epocha to close