A much-loved cafe is the latest hotel operator forced into liquidation as the cost of living crisis continues.
Vili’s Café in Elizabeth, in Adelaide’s north, announced its sudden closure with a handwritten note taped to its window on Thursday.
“Company in liquidation + cessation of activity,” it said.
Vili’s Coffee became a household name in South Australia thanks to its parent company, Villi’s Family Bakery, which distributes cakes nationwide.
Villi’s Family Bakery still has three cafes in operation and issued a statement clarifying that the Elizabeth location was only a franchise.
“Café De Vili’s (franchisor) and Vilis Family Bakery are aware that the company that independently owns and operates Café De Vili’s Elizabeth franchise is in liquidation and has ceased operations,” the statement read.
‘The company, Café 24/7 Pty Ltd, trading as Café De Vili’s Elizabeth, was an authorized franchisee of Café De Vili’s. An entity unrelated to the ownership and operation of Vili’s Family Bakery.
Café De Vili’s still has three locations in Mile End, Hillcrest and Blair Athol.
A handwritten sign confirmed the sad demise of Vili’s Café in Adelaide’s north.
Parent company Villi’s Family Bakery issued a statement acknowledging the closure of one of its franchisees
The news of the Elizabeth cafe’s closure shocked the community.
There goes the last of the floating pie outlets. Old Villi would be turning in his grave,” wrote one disappointed customer.
Another added: ‘Nooo they have the best egg and bacon toasties. “I am so sorry to all the lovely workers there.”
A third wrote: “Unfortunately a sign of the times, Vili is lucky to have their main outlet which is always busy and their network of retail partners is quite strong so they will survive.”
This is the second time in a month that Café de Vili faces a disaster after its The Blair Athol location stapled a similar closing sign to its door in early October.
Management at Villi’s Family Bakery took control to prevent the cafe from going into administration.
“A Café De Vili franchisee, Galaxy Blue Pty Ltd, has ceased operating the Café De Vili business in Blair Athol and Vili management will now operate this business going forward,” a spokesperson said. he told the advertiser At the moment.
‘The operations of Café de Vili’s other businesses are not affected by this change.’
Café De Vili’s still has three operating locations in Mile End, Hillcrest and Blair Athol.
Vince Fazzalari was co-owner of the Elizabeth and Blair Athol cafes, both of which would have closed in October had the parent company not saved its Blair Athol location.
Vince Fazzalari, former co-owner of Elizabeth and Blair Athol cafes and long-time Vili employee, previously said Glam Adelaide the Elizabeth store was “perfect.”
“We are privileged and honored to contribute to the South Australian community with the iconic SA brand,” he said.
“We chose the Elizabeth location because it is the perfect location to continue serving the community.”
Café Elizabeth opened its doors in 2021, six years after the first expansion of Café De Vili in Blair Athol.
Since then, a third franchise has opened in Hillcrest that promises to be the company’s “biggest yet” in 2023.
Café De Vili’s in Miles End is located close to the family’s original bakery and was originally opened over three decades ago to exclusively feed factory workers.
Founder Vilmos Milisits founded the company in 1968, 12 years after his family fled the Hungarian revolution and emigrated to Adelaide.
Vili has gone to become a nationally recognized brand and its pastries They are found in Woolworths, Coles and IGA nationwide.
Milisits died in 2021 at the age of 72.
