It’s closing time at Criniti’s.
The Italian restaurant empire has collapsed under the weight of the coronavirus crisis and, following months of turmoil and closures, all remaining locations across Australia will shut.
The owners had planned to sell – with a post on the chain’s Instagram page promising to see customers “soon” after temporarily closing its remaining restaurants due to COVID-19.
“To our wonderful Criniti’s family, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for your love and support during this difficult time,” the post read.
“From all of us at Criniti’s, thank you for allowing us to share our family passion, joy and love with you all.
“We can’t wait to see you soon”.
But COVID-19 caused the sale agreement to fall through.
The chain – which started in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta in 2003 and owned 13 Italian restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane – reportedly owes more than $16 million.
Speaking back in November, when the chain called in administrators, Graeme Beattie – from Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accounts said there was “never a good way” to deliver such news.
