A popular restaurant and cocktail bar will close its doors after struggling with post-pandemic pressures affecting the hospitality industry.
The Matriarch, a French-inspired venue touted as Brisbane’s most glamorous cafe, announced on Monday it will close for the final time on Sunday.
The spot was opened in 2019 by business partners Jimmy Truong and Mathew Dewacht and weathered the pandemic thanks to its popular afternoon teas.
However, news of the closure was announced in a post on the restaurant’s social media pages and detailed how it was unable to overcome rising costs.
“The last five years have been an experience we will never forget; however, Covid needed a lot of fighting and the current financial crisis is one fight too many,” the post read.
A popular French-inspired restaurant and bar in Brisbane, The Matriarch (pictured), decided to close its doors on Sunday.
‘It is with great regret that we have decided not to renew our lease and close our business.
“We thank you for your continued support and wish you all the best.”
Co-owner and chef Mr Dewacht said that while the business was not forced to close, the current economic outlook made staying open too difficult.
“We’ve just made the decision that we can’t mentally fight basically another Covid, another economic crisis – this is exactly the same feeling as Covid,” he said. courier mail.
‘The level of exhaustion is not worth fighting again. (It is better) to leave without being forced to like other companies that are going bankrupt.
Dewacht said several other companies had fallen into bankruptcy because their customer bases had dried up as the economy began to tighten.
Despite navigating the pandemic, the owners said the current economic stresses affecting the industry were too difficult to handle and their lease would not be renewed.
Devastated customers shared their shock at the sudden closure in comments on the social media post.
“This makes me so sad,” one wrote, adding, “Thank you for such incredible service and hospitality.”
A second customer wrote: “You will surely be missed, thank you for giving us a great experience.”
A third lamented that The Matriarch was “a unique place and hard to beat.”
Another recalled his love for the local snacks before asking if they were selling their furniture.
The Matriarch is just the latest victim of a difficult business environment for the hospitality industry in Australia. Recent closures include Melbourne’s Gauge, after 13 years in business, and Sydney’s beloved Tetsuya restaurant, after 37 years.