Companies behind Gold Coast’s Birdcage, Reds Steakhouse and Ladybird restaurants in liquidation
Three companies behind well-known Gold Coast restaurants are in liquidation with hefty debts – but two of the venues have stayed open under the same ownership.
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Three companies behind well-known Gold Coast restaurants are in liquidation with hefty debts – but two of the venues have stayed open with the same ownership.
The companies in liquidation are all solely directed by long-time restaurateur Ljupco Jovanovksi, 60, a former bankrupt who has overseen multiple restaurants in Melbourne, Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
The company behind the Birdcage restaurant at Main Beach went into voluntary liquidation on Tuesday, but the restaurant itself was still trading on Wednesday.
A new company, Birdcage Dining and Garden Bar, was registered in October last year with Mr Jovanovski as sole director and shareholder. The debts owed by the collapsed Birdcage company are yet to be revealed.
Meanwhile, the company behind Ladybird Restaurant and Bar, which last traded at The Imperial Hotel Main Beach, went into voluntary liquidation on Tuesday this week.
The restaurant itself shut down in November last year.
It’s the second time a company behind Ladybird has collapsed – with one pushed into liquidation in 2023 over a $1.3m tax and superannuation debt.
That company was directed by Sun ‘Jay’ Soon, a former chef who said he was facing bills for $2.7m in unpaid tax after he agreed to a request from his boss to sign as a director.
Mr Jovanovski denied the chef’s claims.
Meanwhile, the company that was running a third Jovanovski venue, Red Steakhouse and Tavern at Sanctuary Cove, went into liquidation on June 12 last year owing almost $1.4m.
A report from liquidator Glenn O’Kearney of GT Advisory said it may have traded insolvent since June 30, 2022 or earlier.
Assets of the restaurant business, including a dishwasher, oven and tables, were sold to a new company for $15,000 on the same day it went into liquidation.
Mr Jovanovski is also sole director of the new company, Aussie Duck, which is operating the restaurant under the slightly different trading name – Red’s Kitchen and Bar.
The Gold Coast Bulletin has contacted Mr Jovanovski for comment.
Mr O’Kearney’s report said he had concluded the “sale price was fair, reasonable and at market value” after obtaining a valuation.
The collapsed company owes $985,000 in tax, while other unsecured creditors including suppliers are owed about $168,846, the report said.
Mr O’Kearney’s report said further investigations were needed into more than $900,000 paid to related parties including Mr Jovanovski before the liquidation.
The restaurateur, who also appears in ASIC records as Lupco Jovanovski and Lou Jovanovski, is also sole director of the company behind Brisbane’s Zazu Dining and Bar at West End.
He and wife Natalie Hallert have previously operated river cruises in Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The pair have frequently left glowing reviews of their own restaurants on social media.
Ms Hallert’s company Natsea was fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to operating an unregistered boat in the Broadwater in 2016.
The company’s boat, MV Voyager, ran aground during a wedding reception cruise, triggering the lifeboat evacuation of more than 80 guests.
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Originally published as Companies behind Gold Coast’s Birdcage, Reds Steakhouse and Ladybird restaurants in liquidation
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