Southbank cafe Chessell and Clarke forced to close 12 weeks after opening

A Mediterranean cafe led by a star chef has been forced to close just weeks after opening, in another blow to the city’s struggling hospitality industry.

Chessell and Clarke owners Murat Ovaz and Serge Thomann were forced to close their Southbank cafe after 12 weeks.

A Southbank cafe owner says location and lack of workers in surrounding office buildings forced the premature closure of his new business.
Chessell and Clarke opened 12 weeks ago in Southbank, and was the highly anticipated next project for Turkish chef and Yagiz star Murat Ovaz.

But co-owner Serge Thomann said running the Mediterranean-style eatery “wasn’t worth the effort” in the final weeks.

“It was in the wrong location for what we wanted to do,” he said.

“It was a beautiful office building, but it was a bit isolated … and not enough people were working in the building.”

Chessell and Clarke was forced to close after just 12 weeks.

“We wanted to create an experience of beautiful food and service, but we found people just wanted to come in and out for sandwiches and it wasn’t worth the effort in the end.”

Chessell and Clarke occupied the ground floor of the new Market Lane building on Chessell St.

Thomann said being unable to achieve a liquor licence also impacted business.

“We applied in January and opened in late March. Getting a liquor licence just takes a long time and we couldn’t sell alcohol with our lunch. We also had plans to open for dinner,” he said.

Heartbroken customers were shocked when the cafe shared the news on Instagram.

“So soon? What a loss to our community. It was our ‘special place’,” one wrote.

“I am so sorry to hear. Will miss my morning coffee, staff and delicious food,” wrote another.

Thomann and Ovaz will now focus on running St Kilda pizzeria I Carusi II, which they bought together earlier this year.

“It’s doing really well. We want to turn it into a real neighbourhood place”.

Melbourne restaurant scene was among the largest casualties of Covid lockdowns, with the cost of living crisis and staff shortages still plaguing the industry.