Popular 50-year-old Colombo’s Restaurant Balwyn closes its doors

During its heyday, this much-loved Italian family restaurant in Balwyn turned over $120,000 a week. With Columbo’s doors now closed and the business in the hands of receivers, insiders have revealed what went wrong.

Colombo's restaurant was a Bawyn institution for nearly 50 years.

A hugely popular restaurant in the heart of Balwyn has shut its doors.

Colombo’s Family Restaurant has been a landmark of the area since it first opened in 1969 but trading ceased shortly after February 27 this year, just shy of its 50th birthday, following the appointment of administrators.

The huge Italian eatery with its historic facade had been run by the Kurban family since 1986 but was taken over solely by Nabil Kurban in 2016.

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A Kurban family member told the Leader the whole family was devastated by the demise of the business.

“It means the world to the family,” he said.

“It used to be so successful, turning over about $120,000 a week.”

He said Mr Kurban had been acting as the director in the last few years since the five Kurban brothers who used to operate the business went their separate ways.

Jesinta Campbell and Wilbur Wilde at the iTakeaway launch at Columbo's in 2010.

A former chef at the restaurant, who wished to remain anonymous, said the closure was devastating for the community.

“It was a good place to work but recently I heard they had their issues,” he said.

“Colombo’s provided lots of jobs to the local community and was a good training ground for lots of chefs.”

In 2015 a local private investor bought the property for $8.6 million and included a new five year lease for Colombo’s.

“Owned and run by five brothers, Colombo’s family restaurant has been a home away from home to the people of Balwyn since 1969,” Damien Stone of Colliers International auction said at the time.

Joint and Several Administrator Richard Rohrt of Hamilton Murphy said they were currently dealing with a prospective buyer for the building.

The property is situated approximately 11km east of the Melbourne CBD.

Mr Kurban was unable to be contacted.

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