Photo of popular Sydney restaurant exposes sad truth of running a business
Customers of a cult-favourite Aussie restaurant shared tributes after a sad photo emerged suggesting it had closed down. Here’s what really happened.
A sad photo of a beloved Sydney restaurant has exposed the tragic reality of running a successful business while trying to juggle family life.
Alex ‘n’ Rolls opened in Marrickville six years ago, selling banh mi (Vietnamese pork rolls), noodle salads and sticky rice dishes paired with succulent, caramelised meats.
It quickly gained a cult following, with long queues of foodies, tradies and locals stretching down the footpath of Illawarra Road in the city’s inner-west.
While famous for its tasty food, the eatery was equally known for its bizarre trading hours, as it could be closed one day and then open the next with no warning.
Customers years earlier set up a dedicated Facebook page announcing when it was trading, but a photo shared late last month appeared to show it had permanently shut up shop.
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The image showed the front of the store in a messy and unkept state.
Cardboard and wooden boards were placed against the folding windows where food was served, while two bags of rubbish, debris, and equipment lay on the ground.
“Looks like they’re done,” the customer, who shared the photo, captioned the post.
According to members of the Facebook group, it was last open on November 16.
News.com.au recently visited Alex ‘n’ Rolls and found it was in a similar condition to the photo shared online.
One local told this publication the restaurant had shut down “a couple months ago”.
“Unfortunately, it’s closed,” he said.
“It’s a shame. They did the best pork rolls in the street. One guy was running it and when he ran out of rolls that’s it, he’d close for the day.”
The rumour mill went into overdrive after locals saw it shut, with speculation that it was forced to close by the council due to non-compliance with health standards.
A spokesman for the Inner West Council said it had no record of investigating Alex ‘n’ Rolls. Meanwhile, a SafeWork NSW spokesperson confirmed it had not been notified of any work, health or safety concerns in relation to the restaurant.
Several days later, news.com.au was able to track down a loved one of the owners.
She confirmed the couple has decided to take some extended time away from the business to prioritise their two children.
“They’re taking a break with the kids while they’re on holidays and want to spend more time with them,” the relative said.
It is understood Alex ‘n’ Rolls will reopen but at a new location.
Burnout rising
A 2025 Beyond Blue survey revealed burnout is on the rise across Australia, with young workers and parents most at risk.
The report showed small business owners were the group to feel most fatigued in the past year, with one in three saying they are “often” or “always” feeling burnt out.
In another survey, small business owners said the main cause of stress was finding a balance between the demands of work, family time, personal life, and the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Starting a business is not easy. Many pour in hundreds of additional hours to ensure their venture is successful, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.
But it can mean other aspects of their lives are neglected, such as spending quality time with loved ones.
Beyond Blue chief Georgie Harman said small business owners are the backbone of communities across the country, and they need to be taken care of.
“We owe it to them, their families, their employees and their communities,” she said.
“Small businesses employ almost half the private sector workforce, yet they operate in a unique and often challenging context, facing financial pressures, isolation, and long working hours.
“These factors, combined with limited access to resources and mental health support, create a perfect storm for mental ill-health.”
The World Health Organisation in 2019 classified burnout as an “occupational phenomenon”, defining it as a “syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”.
Small business owners are being encouraged to implement a plan or techniques to ensure they are not overstressed, particularly at this time of the year.
It can include a personal wellbeing plan to ensure you stay on top of your health, a focus on what you can control and prioritise what is most important, schedule time for what matters most in your life, and seek support or advice from business groups.
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