'Gutted': Restaurants closed as George Calombaris' food empire collapses

George Calombaris' ailing food empire came crashing down on Monday with restaurants closed, administrators appointed and the celebrity chef's Toorak mansion put on the market.

"The last few months have been the most challenging I have ever faced," he said in a statement on Instagram."I am so sorry all our collective efforts have not proved to be enough. I'm gutted that it's come to this." "To be honest, I feel like I’ve been winded, like I've been punched in the gut by the big kid at school," Wilkinson said.Earlier on Monday, a sign asking for "expressions of interest" was put up in front of Calombaris' multimillion-dollar Toorak mansion.star was thinking about relocating to Greece after the insolvency process is completed.Calombaris paid $4.75 million for the five-bedroom home in McMaster Court at the height of his fame in 2013.

In December, Hellenic Hotel in Williamstown was relaunched as Hotel Argentina, while Hellenic Kew transformed into an Italian restaurant, Vita. He intends to close the doors for several days to allow for liquor licences and other administration to be transferred. Simon Hartley, the owner of CBD stalwart Becco, was recruited in January to manage Made's former Hellenic Kew, now called Vita Italian."It’s such a big space, it’s such a big risk at a time like this," Hartley said.

Shifty bastard

24 comments. 21 of them gloating over the misfortune of others.

Now the state (socialism) has to step in and clean up, because Mr Big Capitalism was hopeless at running things.

Tall poppy syndrome alive and well. George back paid all workers. Put the boot in if you will but what about the millions he has paid in wages and the opportunity given to countless young people who have benefited from his mentorship. It’s a sad day and I hope he bounces back.

He’ll be crawling to Channel 10 with his tail between his legs begging for his Masterchef job back

Gutted? Liar!! Thief!! Criminal!!

Great now I'll never get my fucking money back

Maybe greed isn’t good?

Ordinary people have lost their jobs yet people are cheering this news?

This is actually the worst case scenario as all the employees that were underpaid are now not paid at all. It would of been great if George could of shown restaurants can be profitable when paying staff fairly. Unfortunately the restaurant game is brutal with razor thin margins.

είναι κλέφτης

Sad.

Wouldn’t be the only restaurant underpaying staff. so many businesses not paying award rates super and other entitlements. Some staff might not know for years. Some might be complicit in it for a visa outcome. So many laws yet doesn’t stop wage theft occurring

Guaranteed that George won't give up his property portfolio to pay business creditors...masterthief WageTheft

A very good news indeed. I stopped watching Master Chef since his Wage Scandal. Good riddance.

Follow the money. You’ll find he’s already moved his money to crypto or into a trust of some kind whilst this all blows over.

500 jobs lost.The business model did not work paying correct rates.There will be a number more.Its sad to see,nobody wins.Wages are too high,or consumers won’t pay.Columbaris is selling everything,so he’s lost it all too.

What a load of bullshit to blame something else other than greed, quote 'Other factors (cont)

Made off with staff wages.

Goodnews Overrated arroganttwatt

The rich stay rich when they go broke, im betting he's not renting a flat for $300 a week or driving a $1,000 car & straggling to pay utilities...

Driven by greed... one restaurant would have sufficed!

Excellent news. Hope he is forced to sell his toorak mansion.

Hellenic Republic closed a while ago; at least, there's been a different name on the front of the venue.

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