Popular Gympie vegan eatery Sante Greens shuts down after two years

A Mary St eatery has made the shocking decision to shut after less than two years, with customers suggesting another notorious Gympie problem played a part in its closure.

The Sante Greens Salad Bowl owners revealed the closure in a Facebook post on Sunday night saying the changing financial landscape made running the eatery “unsustainable”.

A Mary St eatery says rising costs and “economic uncertainty” are behind its shocking decision to shut less than two years after throwing open its doors in Gympie’s city centre.

But disappointed customers believe another notorious Gympie problem may have played a role, too.

The Sante Greens Salad Bowl owners revealed the closure in a Facebook post on Sunday night saying the changing financial landscape made running the eatery “unsustainable”.

“While this chapter is coming to a close, we do so with deep gratitude in our hearts,” the post said.

“To our loyal customers and community: thank you. Your support, encouragement, and loyalty in our vision meant everything to us.

The Sante Greens Salad Bowl owners revealed the closure in a Facebook post on Sunday night saying the changing financial landscape made running the eatery “unsustainable”.

“Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to explore and share our passion for fresh, healthy, and sustainable food here in Gympie.

“It’s been an incredible journey, and we’re so proud of what we’ve created together.”

The closure was immediate, with the eatery’s doors closed Monday.

The Salad Bowl was opened in November 2023 as the latest venture of the people behind the popular Hatch coffee shop opposite Memorial Park.

Co-owner and manager Hope Ward said at the time the eatery was opened to fill a clear market gap.

Hope Ward and her parents (owners of Hatch) opened the vegan eatery in late 2023. Picture: Christine Schindler

“There’s nowhere in Gympie that caters for vegans or vegetarians and there no healthy takeaway options in Gympie,” co-owner and manager Hope Ward said.
The news was met with dismay, with the eatery’s post attracting more than 300 likes and 75 comment in less than a day.

Felicity Wilkie said the closure was “sad” and suggested location may be an issue.

“If you ever consider reopening it would be great to be somewhere we can easily get a parking,” she said.

“There were times I wanted it but didn’t want to battle Mary Street parking.”

Joy Svage shared this view saying “if you change location somewhere with good parking and a drive through, you’d be in a totally different situation”, as did Brody Amos who said “unfortunately it’s the car parking issue that kills most places in Gympie”.

Carly Jurrs said the eatery’s closure was a loss as it “definitely added something that Gympie needed in its food scene”.

Originally published as Popular Gympie vegan eatery Sante Greens shuts down after two years