It had been a successful five-year run for the beloved Mr Grigor’s cafe in Allambie Heights which closed its doors recently, after missing their deadline to renew their lease by two weeks.
The 7th of March, 2021 marked the final day of Mr Grigor’s: a family restaurant and cafe that succeeded in establishing itself as a community fixture during its five-year run at 19 Grigor Pl, Allambie Heights.
The morning after Mr Grigor’s final day of trade, the owners of the cafe, Maria and Bill Panagiotopoulos, brewed and handed out free coffee to some of their loyal customers, who remained with the venue as part of their last hurrah.
Freebies were given out by the Panagiotopoulos family to those who visited on the 9th of March as thanks for the past five years, with products such as food, drink, as well as some of the cafe’s iconic doodads. Even the planters that stood outside Mr Grigor’s doors are up for grabs, according to their Facebook post.
Want to own one or both of our signature planters? Enquire within or pop in. Great statement plants for inside the home or to add some flare to your front entry! Link will be in the bio!! 🪴🪴🪴
Posted by Mr. Grigor’s on Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Long-time customers have expressed their gratitude on social media, writing comments on Mr Grigor’s announcement to show just how much the restaurant meant to them. One of the trends among comments across their Facebook page shows that Mr Grigor’s is irreplaceable to the Allambie Heights community, and that the suburb will never be the same without them.
What Happened to Mr Grigor’s?
The story goes that the Panagiotopoulos family received a letter from the estate agents of the Allambie Heights shopping centre that informed them that they had to pack up and vacate the premises. Mr Grigor’s predicament was brought about by a series of complications over the renewal of their five-year lease.
Pressure to keep the business afloat amidst the pandemic partnered with growing personal and family concerns only exacerbated the issue and prevented the couple from renewing their lease with their landlord. The couple missed the deadline by two weeks, and their follow-up offer was rejected.
With the restaurant closed, the Panagiotopoulos family has set its sights on starting anew and opening another one within or around the Northern Beaches area.