Popular Noosa restaurant folds on financial pressure
A popular Noosa restaurant was given 24 hours to shut its doors as it became the latest in a long line of venues to buckle under financial pressure.
Alba by Kuruvita, run by celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita, shut its doors after two years in operation after investors pulled the pin.
The restaurant was named one of Queensland’s top 100 restaurants and won chefs hats in its short life, but its popularity and reputation was not enough to save it.
The restaurant and affiliated businesses including a cafe, pizzeria, cooking school, shop and function venue, were all given 24 hours’ notice by directors and shareholders, led by Rod McCready of Altum Property Group.
“I found out on Friday, and then we closed after Saturday night’s service,” Kuruvita told the Courier Mail.
“They engaged me, we created this beautiful place and the collaboration has come to an end. The decision to close was not mine, it was theirs and I feel like we were successful in what we set out to do.”
The agreed collaboration was for two years; the property will now become a full-time functions centre.
“Forever increasing regulatory burdens and inflationary pressures have made it a challenge,” McCready said.
“We’ve really enjoyed our time working there with staff and customers and made a lot of lifelong friends and Alba is looking forward to its new redesigned future.”
All workers and suppliers will be paid their full entitlements, however, they are now scrambling to fund new employment.
Holders of gift certificates to the restaurant or cooking school will be refunded.
Kuruvita will focus on opportunities outside the restaurant industry.
“I’m not leaving town. I’m definitely hanging around, but you probably won’t see me in another restaurant again,” he said.
“This year is 45 years in the kitchen and I’m just looking forward to being in and around Noosa and working with Sunshine Coast Tourism and maybe an ambassador role.”
Kuruvita has been involved with Flying Fish at Sydney’s Star casino and two restaurants in Fiji and has starred in food documentaries for SBS.
Jonathan Jackson, 31st January 2024
