Fate of George Calombaris' restaurant empire could be decided TODAY as potential buyers give hope to 400 workers whose jobs hang in the balance
- Fate of 12 restaurants shuttered by collapse of Calombaris' empire still unclear
- Estimated 400 workers still waiting to find out if they have jobs to come back to
- Rent set to start accruing on MasterChef star's affected venues from this week
- Talks with buyers for the interior furnishings and the leases already underway
- Chef behind one of his company's eateries said he was 'angered' by the situation
The fate of 12 restaurants shuttered by the collapse of George Calombaris' restaurant empire hangs in the balance as administrators desperately try to find buyers.
About 400 workers were left waiting to find out whether they would have jobs to come back to after the celebrity chef's MAdE Establishment entered voluntary administration last Monday.
The rush to find buyers comes as rent starts accruing on Calombaris' businesses this week, with the 41-year-old's financial woes continue to mount in the wake of the $7.8million wage underpayment saga which emerged last year.
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George Calombaris' (pictured with his wife Natalie) restaurant empire is hanging in the balance as administrators desperately try to find buyers for the businesses affected
The shuttered Hellenic Republic restaurant in Brunswick in Melbourne's inner-north is pictured. Talks with buyers for the restaurants' interior furnishings as well as their leases are already underway
Talks with buyers for the restaurants are reportedly already underway and sale announcements could be made as early as Monday.
50 expressions interest have also been made into the restaurant chain's 12 businesses, The Australian reported.
It comes as the chef behind Crofter Dining Room in Brunswick in Melbourne's inner-north Matt Wilkinson shared his anger at the closure of the restaurant on Sunday morning.
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'Thank you to my staff, to the farmers, producers and suppliers, thank you to the many reviewers and especially thank you to the customers who in such a short time made it an amazing place,' Mr Wilkinson said
He said in an Instagram post he hoped to re-open the venue in the near future, while personally thanking Calombaris alongside the hashtag 'not his fault'.
The closed Jimmy Grants chain in Melbourne's CBD is pictured in the wake of the demise of Calombaris' restaurant empire
'I am angry and sad about this whole scenario. Angry that after 40 days of work of not seeing my wolf pack I can’t make it work.'
It follows the Victorian government lodging a claim over George Calombaris' private assets in a stunning revelation in the wake of his restaurant empire's demise.
Calombaris' financial woes spilled over into his personal assets amid revelations Victoria's Commissioner of State Revenue made a claim against him in January for unpaid land tax on a holiday house at Safety Beach on the Mornington Peninsula.
The claim comes just three weeks after the property, which is owned by Trical Beach Pty Ltd, directed by the chef's wife Natalie Tricarico, was sold for around $1million.
Calombaris has also advertised his five-bedroom Toorak home for sale, with both properties being mortgaged to ANZ.
The only part of Made Establishment excluded from administration is a chain of four Yo-Chi outlets.
The former MasterChef host said on February 10 he was 'devastated' by the decision.
The former MasterChef host said on February 10 he was 'devastated' by the decision in an Instagram post last week
Calombaris was a judge and host on the hit Network Ten show MasterChef from 2009 until 2019. Pictured with co-hosts Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston
'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. On a personal note, the last few months have been the most challenging I have ever faced.
'At this time, while personally devastated, I remain thankful to my family, friends, the MAdE team, our loyal and regular customers.
'I am so sorry all our collective efforts have not provided to be enough. I'm gutted that it's come to this.'
