Popular pizza chain Criniti’s finally closes for good owing more than $16.5 million in debts

The national restaurant institution has been riddled with controversy since initially falling into administration in November. But the doors will never open again.

The coronavirus-induced national shutdown spoiled a last ditch sale agreement to keep Italian chain Criniti’s open, which will now close permanently with debts of more than $16.5 million.

The national restaurant company has been mired in controversy since falling into voluntary administration in November but it was hoped a slimmed down version of the chain would make an attractive proposition for sale.

But creditors this week pulled the plug on the rescue efforts and closed the remaining seven restaurants, revealing the pandemic had cost the company $6.1 million.

Nearly half of its network of stores had already been closed up until January as administrators readied the once thriving business for purchase.

“The sale process was interrupted by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the purchaser withdrew their offer,” Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants said.

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The company reportedly owes tens of thousands of dollars to staff and $15 million to the Australian Taxation Office.

Like most companies and industries across Australia, Criniti’s has had to negotiate the unique trading environment since the introduction of strict social distancing measures to control the spread of the deadly virus.

Cosmo, Rosa and daughter Kathy Criniti pose for photographs at Criniti's in Parramatta. Picture: AAP IMAGE/Angelo Velardo

It announced in a Facebook post earlier this month it would temporarily close but it would “see you soon”.

“The wellbeing and safety of our staff, our customers and our community is our number one priority and today, we have decided to temporarily close our restaurants,” it said.

See you soon ❤️The wellbeing and safety of our staff, our customers and our community is our number one priority and...

Posted by Criniti's Italian Cuisine on Friday, 3 April 2020

‘CRINITI’S WAS MY FIRST BABY’

Speaking with news.com.au last year, Ms Tannous said she could not “stay silent any longer” about the problems that had plagued the family business.

She said she was “devastated” at the loss of jobs and the restaurant’s faltering reputation with customers who have complained of expensive, poor quality food.

“Criniti’s was my first baby and I am really proud of what I helped to build at the beginning,” she said in November.

“I put in a lot of hard work to get Criniti’s to a place that it was both successful and stable and felt that I could take the time to step back and focus on my children.”

In its heyday, Criniti’s held lavish store openings with red carpets and music performances.

Irish-Australian dance music group The Potbelleez performed at the Manly launch in 2013, attended by a number of Australian singers, actors, television presenters and famous chefs.

Criniti’s was also quick to jump on both the social media bandwagon and popularity of food photography with its three-metre pizza and Facebook albums of people “Snapped at Criniti’s”.