A popular Asian restaurant with two locations in Melbourne has gone into administration as an emotional post from the company’s co-founder details the company’s struggles.
Calia, a restaurant-to-retail brand launched in 2016, went into administration on June 28 according to documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Co-founded by Jason Chang and Ricky Thien, Calia has two physical restaurant stores at Chadstone and the Emporium, with both accompanied by a retail section offering high-quality food and alcohol products.
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The products are also available through Cali’s online marketplace.
In recent years the company has expanded overseas, with two stores in Kuala Lumpur and one planned for Jakarta.
The same week the company collapsed, Chang, who is also a City of Melbourne councillor, took to social media to share the struggles he had faced as a business owner amid the cost-of-living crisis.
“I recently broke down in city council when I commented on the challenges of small businesses in Melbourne CBD as well as families during this cost-of-living crisis,” he wrote.
“I have now realised that as strong as I try to be, I am not immune from depression and anxiety.
“Like many other struggling small business owners in Melbourne, my own hospitality businesses have been faced with many financial challenges with the rise of operational costs (wages, COGS (cost of goods sold), rent, borrowing costs, etc).”
Cali’s Emporium store in Melbourne.
Credit: Facebook
Calia restaurants also have an adjoining retail section selling local and imported products.
Credit: Facebook
He encouraged others who were struggling to reach out for help.
“As I broke down, I realised that I needed help to carry the emotional stress I faced,” Chang said.
“Please don’t be afraid to ask for help — we all need a shoulder to lean on sometimes.”
Glenn Anthony Crisp from Jirsch Sutherland has been appointed as joint administrator.
A spokesperson from Jirsch Sutherland said both of Cali’s Melbourne restaurants had been “severely impacted” by COVID lockdowns.
“Trading has improved since then; however, it’s not sufficient to clear the backlog of debt,” the spokesperson said.
“The business is continuing to trade with the purpose of restructuring and entering into a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) with its creditors.
“If this is accepted by creditors, the business will be restructured and continue on.”