REVEALED: Tasmanian businesses that closed in FY21
From beloved clothing stores to local coffee shops, here are the Tassie businesses that shut up shop or fell victim to Covid-19 in the 2020/21 financial year >>
Tasmania
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The pandemic has taken its toll on businesses across Tasmania forcing some to fall off insolvency cliffs and even turn off their lights and shut up shop.
Although the Australian Bureau of Statistics notes that around 60% of businesses stop operation within the first three years, the extra turmoil of Covid has casted a dark shadow over a number of start-ups and organisations.
Despite Job-Keeper and other government support programs drying up at the beginning of the year, Tasmanian business owners remain positive and say the introduction of restrictions such as mandatory sign ins at front doors and five metre social distancing are necessary to keep trade ticking along.
“I’m comfortable with the restrictions we have in Tassie because everything we’ve done so far has worked so I’m just trusting the process is working,” said Grinners Dive Bar owner Ben Wells.
While Covid has brutally impacted multiple businesses in health care and hospitality, the pandemic has allowed other companies to think outside of the box in order to flourish, renewing their focus on local clientele rather than relying on a tourism-based market.
And the forecast for the state doesn’t seem to be all doom and gloom with Tasmania’s economy remaining the strongest in the nation, an impressive feat revealed in a new report by CommSec this week.
“Equipment investment in Tasmania was up 52.3 per cent on the decade average, demonstrating the resilience and confidence of our business owners who are willing to invest in their future after the disruption of last year,” Premier Peter Gutwein said.
“The Covid-19 pandemic remains an ever-present threat, and we know there is more work to do to continue these gains so that all Tasmanians can benefit.”
As local businesses face uncertainties for the future with imposed lockdowns interstate threatening trade for 2021, CreditorWatch CEO Patrick Coghlan, said businesses that have the confidence to continue to trade, invest and hire are the “lifeblood of our economy”.
“Most recently, businesses are confronting conditions that they didn’t expect to due to Covid closures in greater Sydney, Melbourne and beyond.”
“But we are in much better shape than we were this time last year and I expect to be able to report more positive news as we move through 2021 and beyond.”
BUSINESSES THAT WENT BUST IN FY21
Ettie’s - Closed July 2020
Popular Hobart restaurant Ettie’s shut down last year at the end of July — one of the first venues in Tasmania’s hospitality industry to fall victim to the financial hit of Covid-19.
After three years of serving customers on Elizabeth St, the bistro announced its closure to customers on social media.
“We were all forced to shut down for an extended period of time and while the government is doing its best to help our industry to recover some venues will never again hear the chink of glasses, the pops of cork or the laughter of customers enjoying a night out.” the post read.
“With this in mind, Carl and James have made the very hard but measured decision to not reopen Ettie’s restaurant.”
With the restaurant relying heavily on Tasmania’s tourism market, Ettie’s owners said they had fears their venue would not make it through the next 12 months operating under ‘new normal’ regulations and could not afford to reopen post Covid-19.
In their farewell post owners Carl Windsor and James Kingston said they hoped to bring Ettie’s back to the Hobart hospitality scene in a new space sometime in the future.
CharlotteJack - Closed July 2020
A lack of foot traffic, an upcoming annual rent of $52,000 a year combined with Covid-19 trading restrictions saw Masterchef’s Ben Milbourne close the doors of his Devonport restaurant CharlotteJack.
Named after his children, the up-market eatery opened in 2018 at Devonport City Council’s Providore Place which was part of stage one of its Living City project.
Despite its success, two years after opening Milbourne made the tough decision to close the venue noting that the building was a “white elephant” in the city.
“You could go to Devonport and navigate yourself around the city without ever going through that area. It just did not become the city centrepiece I was told it would be.”
C. H. Smith Marine - Closed August 2020
After more than 130 years of business, Launceston’s C.H. Smith marine closed its doors at the end of August 2020 claiming financial uncertainty brought on by Covid-19 tipped the business over the edge.
The historic marine supply store provided fishing gear, boat accessories, electronics and water sports products to a keen clientele along Wellington St.
“A lot has changed in recent years, with big chains like BFC and Anaconda coming in and not as many commercial fishermen coming in,” said co-owner Robin Anderson.
“COVID-19 affected us in the early stages too, since people weren’t able to go fishing or boating, so that didn’t help.”
Sash Coffee - June 2021
After serving caffeine lovers on the Sandy Bay strip since 2015, popular cafe Sash Coffee closed their doors on June 25.
Owner Elrick Aubelack told the Mercury his landlord had declined to renew their lease uneless it was on a month-to-month basis.
“I was very emotional and a lot of people felt it and are still feeling it, I think,” he told the Mercury.
Mr Aubelack and his wife are planning to open a new cafe called Wide Awake after leasing a space on Elizabeth Street in North Hobart.
Les Lees, Launceston - September 2020
Tasmanian menswear retailer Les Lees closed its Launceston store in September last year following the end of their lease.
The store was one of two in the state that sells everything from formal and casual wear to accessories.
Les Lees’ Launceston storefront was only open for two years on Charles St before closing on September 26 2020.
The company still caters to Hobart shoppers on the Liverpool strip in the CBD.
Embellish Gifts, Devonport - February 2021
After six years on Devonport’s Stewart St, popular gift store Embellish was forced to shut up shop last year, June 12 marking the store’s final day of trade.
“It’s purely a case of a bit too much on my plate and not wanting to travel so much and move closer to home.”said store owner Nat.
“It is with mixed feelings that we have decided not to renew our lease... with 3 young children and our Launceston shops busier than ever before, I have had to make the tough decision to simplify our life,”
Embellish’s Launceston CBD and Riverside stores remain open with the retailer also offering online shopping.
Country Road, Sandy Bay - June 2021
Beloved by many Hobart fashionistas, Sandy Bay’s Country Road closed its doors in June 30 2021.
The popular clothing and lifestyle brand was a staple on the Sandy Bay strip for years.
When the Mercury contacted the Country Road for comment they said there was “not much to tell” about the closure of the store.
The shop’s closure leaves only one Country Road store left in the capital city in the Hobart Icon centre.
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