The Canberra Times has the horrific news that O’Connor’s All Bar Nun has been ordered out by the landlords:
The new landlords bought the building in late 2010. They were not available for comment yesterday, but it’s understood they are planning to open a new bar on the site.
Despite the setback in O’Connor, the owners of All Bar Nun are also proceeding with plans to open a restaurant and bar at Griffith shops.
The development, in a former Chinese restaurant, is expected to be open for business within a matter of weeks.
So if you want a sneaky pint in the sun there’s not much time.
One hopes the landlords will not drag the chain in opening the new premises.
Loading ...
What’s Your opinion?
All Bar Nun to close by 1 February?
schmeah said :
Man, that was years and years ago…..
Regardless of whether you like ABN, the underlying story is that the landlord kicks out a successful business (which of course it has the right to do once the lease expires) and then sets up his own successful business offering (it appears) exactly the same. In other words, once all the hard work has been done and a bar established and a client base created, just take over the business. I mean, realistically, if ABN becomes ‘The Monks Cassock’, 95% of people will still turn up and drink there on a Sunday afternoon. They won’t care who the owner is (eg: johnboy’s comment “One hopes the landlords will not drag the chain in opening the new premises”).
This was a big issue for small businesses in shopping centres a few years ago (go through the hard yards to create a successful small business, only to have the landlord up the rent and sell your spot to someone else, who then runs a business very similar to the one you worked so hard to create). There was legislation passed but I dont know how successful it has been (nor whether it applies to the ABN situation).
I know that the landlord owns the building and that renters take the risk upon lease expiry – but if the business works they get screwed at lease renewal time or – in the worst case – have their business taken from them entirely; if it doesnt work they still take the risk because the lease payments are often personally guaranteed. Luckily most building owners are passive investors who dont want to run a business themselves.
There is no solution to this of course. A left wing person might say it shows that those who own the land (capital) always win the battle over those that provide the labour.
johnboy said :
I try not to urinate on other people. Terrible habit that.
schmeah said :
The meatheads moved on to greener pastures some time ago.
Are you saying you never urinate?
Thumper said :
Yes, an institution of urinating meat heads. Glad to see this dive is being given the boot.
buzz819 said :
Actually I’m not sure anymore, I was possibly thinking of the Holy Grail building in Kingston where the owners are in court with the Holy Grail because they want to build a new pub/club there.
So you can add that and Edgars in Ainslie to your list.
And who said there wasn’t money to be made in Restaurants / pubs and nightclubs?
toadstool said :
I’m going to say that it has been closed for the last 2 years or so….
While on the subject of bar closures. Can anyone tell me what is going on with Filthy McFaddens? Last time I walked past it looked like a construction site. Is it closed for good? It was also a Canberra institution.
chewy14 said :
So if that is true that means they would then have;
Suburban/Belluci’s,
Belluci’s Manuka,
Public Manuka,
Belluci’s Woden,
Academy nightclub and now
Whateva will open in O’Connor….
Peekz said :
Well they’ve already moved on to Suburban. But I’m guessing Public for this season now the Tradies deal is over.
Now where are Raiders players going to urinate on people?
Isn’t the building owned by the same guys that own Suburban in Dickson?
Suburban MKII?
That will be a pity as All Bar has become a bit of an institution.
On the radio this morning, one of the co-owners said they hadn’t been told directly by the landlord that they were not to be extended…. He said something along the lines of it being rumour at this stage. However, that doen’t mean it won’t become fact very quickly!
Can we please have Delicateating back at O’Connor Shops (or any other quality casual dining restaurant).
I can’t say I’ll be too affected if ABN does close down, but do recognise there are a lot of others who will miss it.
There is also some irony that the Vietnamese restaurant that was the previous tenant at the ABN site has also ended up at the Griffith Shops.
I’d like them back in O’Connor too please!