Hardware Societe in Melbourne CBD closes doors indefinitely

Lockdown 3.0 has claimed one of Melbourne’s original laneway cafes, with its owners revealing the true cost of Melbourne’s abandoned CBD.

The Hardware Societe, Hardware St, City.

One of Melbourne’s original CBD laneway cafes has closed its doors due to the latest lockdown.

After almost 12 years on Hardware Street, owners of the loved café institution Hardware Societe said it was “with a heavy heart we have decided to close our Hardware St venue indefinitely”.

Di and Will Keser opened Hardware Societe in 2009 and the French-inspired café quickly found fans for its breakfasts of pan-fried brioche, croque madams and decadent hot chocolates, with queues often stretching around the block.

Fried brioche with dulce de leche, poached quince and toasted hazelnuts was one of the cafe’s famous dishes.

Coddled eggs with toast soldiers.

In 2016 they exported their Australian café to Paris, opening a second Hardware Societe in the trendy Montmarte district, and a third back in Melbourne’s CBD on Katherine Place in 2019.

“We have had to endure the loss of tourists, international students and office workers and we are fighting for our life right now,” the Kesers posted to Instagram.

“Since reopening in October 2020, it’s been very, very hard.

“Lockdown 3.0 has been the last straw. Will and I are committed to getting through this, but it won’t be easy.”

While the Katherine Place Hardware Societe remains open, Di wrote that “today our sales were $391, that’s about $10,000 less than an ordinary Monday … it breaks my heart to say this aloud but this is our truth”.

“I urge you to support all local hospitality businesses and avoid using delivery platforms.”

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