Stalactites’ message to Jimmy Grants staff: We want you
Melbourne souvlaki institution Stalactites has nailed down its purchase of two important leases from the George Calombaris empire, and the owner has an important message for ex-staff.
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Owners of Melbourne souvlaki institution Stalactites are reaching out to former staff of George Calombaris’ Jimmy Grants restaurants as they take up two crucial leases from the fallen food empire.
The Stalactites Group have confirmed they have finalised the purchase of two key Jimmy Grants stores – Emporium Melbourne and Fitzroy – after the collapse of George Calombaris’ MAdE business.
The company owns Greek food favourite, the 41 year old Stalactites, and quick service restaurant Hella Good.
It will transform the two Jimmy Grants sites into Hella Good stores.
Emporium will open mid this year and Fitzroy in the later months of this year.
Nicole Papasavas of The Stalactites Group said she was working with Calombaris’ MAdE Establishment Group to rehire as many of the existing staff from each store as possible.
She said this was both for the new Hella Good stores and the historic Stalactites Restaurant in Lonsdale Street.
“We feel very sad about what’s happened with MAdE Establishment Group, however, with this opportunity to take on these two great Jimmy Grants stores, we are doing what we can to support the staff and rework them back into our business,” Papasavas said.
“Our family has been serving Greek cuisine to Melburnians for over 40 years and we are lucky we can continue to do so.”
She said two former Jimmy Grants staff had already started at Stalactites and another at the existing Hella Good restaurant.
Ms Papasavas said her group would be looking to hire another 20 staff “to start with” as it got ready for the new Hella Good stores.
She said the business was interested in people who wanted to stay in hospitality.
“Some of our staff at Stalactites have been as long as we have. Most staff here are long term. It is not a revolving door.”
“We are looking for staff now, to start training them.”
The first Hella Good store opened in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, in 2017 and the two new Hella Good’s will make a total of three stores across Melbourne.
The restaurant has already been recognised within the industry, winning the best new quick service restaurant concept 2019 award.
Stalactites was in the media last month, when Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas launched his own souvlaki at the restaurant during the Aussie Open.
The Greek restaurant has only bestowed the honour once before — when Marcos Baghdatis made it to the Australian Open final in 2006.
Administrators had been working feverishly to find new owners for 12 former Calombaris MAdE venues and save some of the jobs the empire supported.
KordaMentha has now sold five restaurant leases but does not expect to make any more sales of the remaining seven.
A final report by administrators is due next Tuesday.
Former MAdE Establishment hospitality staff can contact: manager@stalactites.com.au