A prominent Brisbane restaurant chain, City Winery Brisbane Pty Ltd, has entered voluntary liquidation, leading to the closure of six venues across the city, including popular spots in Fortitude Valley, Newstead, and Milton. This sudden shutdown affected locations that had become beloved fixtures in Brisbane’s dining scene.
Dave Cush, CEO of City Winery Brisbane, expressed his devastation over the decision to close the venues, citing a significant drop in consumer spending influenced by current economic pressures such as the cost of living and high interest rates. Increases in labour and operational costs, compounded by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns, have dramatically impacted the business’s viability.
The opening of The Star at Queen’s Wharf last week posed a final challenge, as Cush noted that competing with such a large-scale operation was beyond their capacity.
“We simply cannot compete with an operation of that scale,” he explained, highlighting the challenges small businesses face against larger conglomerates.
City Winery opened its doors in 2019 in Fortitude Valley and was notable for being Brisbane’s first inner-city winery since the 19th century. It offered unique experiences, such as wine-making masterclasses, and expanded rapidly before its closure.
The newer Ardo’s venues, launched just earlier this year, followed a similar trajectory of quick expansion before the abrupt cessation.
The liquidation process is set to unfold soon, with a spokeswoman for City Winery stating that liquidators will contact creditors soon. It remains unclear how many employees will be affected by the job losses or the total debts owed by the company.
The collapse of City Winery and its associated venues marks a significant loss for Brisbane’s culinary landscape. It reflects broader challenges within the hospitality industry, which is facing economic and competitive pressures.
Published 5-Sept-2024
