Anyone home? George Calombaris’ once-thriving restaurants across Melbourne sit idle and deserted with lights off and chairs upturned after Masterchef's culinary empire comes crashing down
- MAdE Establishment Group announced voluntary administration on Monday
- The Melbourne-based food empire, founded by Calombaris, operates 18 venues
- The former MasterChef host said he is 'gutted' and 'devastated' by the decision
- The 41-year-old has been plagued by his $7.8million underpayment scandal
- The chef was made to pay $200,000 as part of deal with Fair Work Ombudsman
- He insisted the underpayment was a mistake and blamed it on inexperience
- His Melbourne restaurants were locked up on Tuesday after going into admin
On Monday, a 'devastated' Calombaris placed 22 companies in his MAdE Establishment Group into voluntary administration
The once-bustling restaurants of ex-MasterChef judge George Calombaris have suddenly fallen silent in the city where he was once hailed a culinary king.
Each of Calombaris’ Melbourne restaurants were closed for business on Tuesday as news broke that his empire had been placed into the hands of administrators.
His once flagship restaurant Gazi on the corner of Exhibition and Flinders Street - a short stroll from Melbourne’s main rail hub - was locked up as office workers gazed inside at chairs neatly stored on tables.
The once neon glow of its Elektra dining hall was dark.
It was once the venue of Calombaris’ acclaimed Press Club restaurant, which was positioned in an old newspaper building.
Down the street at Melbourne’s busy Emporium food hall, Calombaris’ trendy souvalaki joint Jimmy Grants was an awkward pocket of despair in the otherwise heaving food court.
Daily Mail Australia watched confused diners staring at the prominently placed business, with some stopping to take photos.
Jimmy Grants at Melbourne's Emporium shopping centre was deserted on Tuesday after George Calombaris' empire went into administration
Brunswick's Hellenic Republic has seats on tables after the backlash against its owner George Calombaris
Similar scenes greeted diners across inner Melbourne with Jimmy Grants in Richmond and Fitzroy closed.
So too was the former Hellenic Republic in Brunswick, which like Calombaris’ other flagship restaurants recently underwent re-branding.
It remains unclear what will become of the chef’s 400-odd staff that are still employed by his company MAde Establishment Group.
Several former employees, who were previously vocal in their condemnation of Calombaris, would not respond to questions posed by Daily Mail Australia.
It has been a rapid fall from grace for the once beloved MasterChef judge, who became public enemy number one when he was revealed as a wage thief.
While some diners expressed sadness at seeing the lights go out at Calombaris’ restaurants, his plight is quietly being celebrated by many ex-employees who vented online.
Jimmy Grants in Richmond was all quiet on Tuesday after news that the former MasterChef giant's business had collapsed
George Calombaris' Jimmy Grants in Fitzroy was closed for business on Tuesday
Calombaris' 12 restaurants and food venues in Melbourne will stop trading immediately, with up to 400 workers at risk of losing their jobs
Calombaris was scarcely known outside the culinary scene when he hit Australian screens a decade ago as one-third of the MasterChef judging panel.
But he quickly became one of the most recognised faces on Australian television and built a restaurant empire on the back of his success.
Now, the feisty Greek-Australian finds himself at risk of seeing his success evaporate almost as quickly as it emerged.
The former Masterchef darling's city flagship Gazi was closed after the disgraced chef went into administration
Gazi was a ghost town after George Calombaris' failure was completed this week in Melbourne
Jimmy Grants busy Melbourne CBD shop was shut up tight on Tuesday
The celebrity chef has been plagued by scandal in and out of the kitchen in the years since his television debut on the wildly successful cooking show.
From a $7.8 million underpayment saga, an overturned conviction for assaulting a teenager at a A-League match and his departure from the show that made him a household name - his somewhat sudden fall from grace culminated on Monday with the collapse of his restaurant empire.
A 'devastated' Calombaris revealed 22 companies in his MAdE Establishment Group had gone into voluntary administration.
Calombaris' 12 restaurants and food venues in Melbourne have stopped trading immediately.
The only part of the business excluded from administration is a chain of four Yo-Chi yoghurt outlets.
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The Melbourne-based restaurant empire, founded by Calombaris, operates 18 venues including the Press Club, Gazi and Hellenic Republic (pictured)
The former MasterChef took to Instagram on Monday evening to say he was 'devastated' by the decision
The management of MAdE, which is backed by former Swisse CEO Radek Sali, met with creditors earlier on Monday before the announcement was made.
'Craig Shepard and Leanne Chesser of KordaMentha restructuring were today appointed Voluntary Administrators of 22 companies in the MAdE Establishment Group,' the advisory and investment firm said in a statement.
'The appointment excludes the [smaller offshoot, yoghurt store] Yo-Chi operations which will continue to trade as usual. All other venues have stopped trading immediately.
'Employees have been paid all outstanding wages and superannuation up to the date of the appointment.
A 'gutted' Calombaris revealed his 'personal devastation' at the crumbling of his restaurant empire.
'Although we have all continued to work tirelessly and overcome the many challenges we have recently experienced, it is with deep sadness and regret that today MAdE Establishment has been placed into voluntary administration,' he wrote on social media.
'To all my team, I truly regret it has come to this. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your loyalty and friendship.
'I am so sorry all our collective efforts have not provided to be enough. I'm gutted it's come to this.'
