BUFFET dining chain Sizzler will permanently close the doors on its nine remaining Australian restaurants.
The brand’s 35-year existence in Australia will come to an end on November 15.
The restaurants in Mermaid Beach, Loganholme, Toowoomba, Maroochydore, and Caboolture in Queensland, Campbelltown in Sydney, and Innaloo, Kelmscott and Morley in Perth will close by that date.
Owner Collins Foods Limited said the “difficult decision” was made following a “slow” recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This has been an incredibly difficult decision and not one we’ve made lightly, especially given the impact it will have on our dedicated Sizzler staff and customers in Australia,” Collins Foods chief executive Drew O’Malley said.
“Sizzler has been a much-loved Australian family restaurant for the past 35 years.
“However, dining trends and consumer preferences have evolved during this time away from Sizzler’s casual dining, restaurants in suburban locations.
“We are extremely grateful to our dedicated staff, suppliers and customers for their support over the past 35 years.”
The Toowoomba Sizzler confirmed the news to customers on Friday.
“Unfortunately our Sizzler Toowoomba restaurant will close after trade on Sunday the 15th of November,” a sign on the front door read.
“Thank you for your patronage over the last 31 years.”
Sizzler had been under significant pressure prior to the pandemic.
In March, the Rockhampton restaurant in central Queensland closed after 31 years.
It went the way of sister restaurants at Ipswich, Brookside, Toowong, Carindale and Bundaberg in Queensland and Sydney’s Kogarah.
Known for its unlimited cheesy bread and salad bar, Sizzler was once one of Australia’s most popular restaurant chains after opening in Kedron in Brisbane in 1985.
It suffered perhaps its greatest public relations crisis in 2006 when foreign objects, thought to be rat poison, were found in food in the Toowong restaurant.
(SOURCE: 7NEWS.COM)
