Controversial Karen’s Diners shut up shop leaving customers with bad taste in mouths

A controversial restaurant chain, which made a name for its purposefully-terrible service and rude staff, has abruptly shut three of its Australian stores. Here’s why.

A controversial restaurant chain, which made a name for its purposefully-terrible service and rude staff, has abruptly shut three of its Australian stores.

Karen’s Diners stores at Surfers Paradise, Perth and Melbourne have all closed in the past three days.

The Surfers Paradise store, in Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre, was shuttered on Friday afternoon, with A4 signs stuck to the front simply stating “Karen’s Diner Closed”.

Karen's Diner at Surfers Paradise has closed down. Picture: Kathleen Skene

A post on the American chain’s social media confirmed the closures were permanent.

“Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and Karen can’t stay forever!

“Today marks the closing of some of our Australian pop-up stores.”

While it developed a following in Australia, Karen’s Diner also attracted plenty of criticism, with many customers saying its staff went too far in their quest to offend.

One Brisbane outlet made headlines when a patron was labelled a “paedophile” after taking his family, including his 14 year old daughter, to the store for lunch.

The Karen’s post said the brand was not yet finished harassing Australian diners.

“If your local pop-up store has closed, there will be a Karen’s Diner On Tour coming to your city this September,” it said.

“Karen can’t stay away and needs to give you a piece of her mind.”

Karen's Diner at Surfers Paradise has closed down.

Karen's Diner 'The Home of Great Burgers & Rude Service'.

Comments on the post appear to have been turned off, with only one of the 11 posted visible to the public.

It was from a customer asking what happened to the Perth store which she said “took a deposit from my friend for her daughters bday tomorrow and she’s received no notice of being closed but Google shows permanently closed and phone number is disconnected??”.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has contacted the company for comment.

Karen's Diner – an American style diner famous for its rude staff who deliberately spout expletives at customers.

Karen’s Diner opened its first Australian store in Sydney’s George Street in October 2021, and launched at Southbank in Brisbane in April last year and Surfers Paradise in July.

The franchising entity is based in Adelaide, and has numerous shareholders who invested in the venture as a crowd funding venture.

Originally published as Controversial Karen’s Diners shut up shop leaving customers with bad taste in mouths