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Maarten Holl / Things
Wellington’s popular Astoria Cafe on Lambton Quay will close after more than 25 years.
The 31 employees of one of Wellington’s best-known cafes have been laid off weeks before Christmas.
The cafe began operating in Wellington Central’s Midland Park on Lambton Quay in 1996, which means that the next year it would have been number 25 in operation, making it one of the oldest cafes in the capital.
Things understands that Yu Group, the business owner, has plans to open an Italian restaurant on the premises.
The announcement was made to Astoria staff about a month ago.
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Yu Group, which is owned by China-based Yuteng Zheng, bought the company in 2016, according to records from the Bureau of Enterprises.
The last day of the cafe opening is Christmas Eve, Things understands.
Ross Giblin / Stuff
The cafe has been a popular hangout for politicians and public servants, including former National Party and ACT leader Don Brash, shown here in 2011.
As with Monday afternoon, there were no signs outside the cafe announcing its closure, nor were there any messages on its social media page.
While there has been no formal confirmation of the closure, Astoria staff confirmed that Things the closure would go ahead. They said they were notified that none of them would have a job on New Years.
“It is the worst Christmas you can give to anyone. We are all being fired, ”said a staff member.
Staff were informed that salary costs had increased, but not the price of coffee. The cafe wasn’t making enough money, they told staff.
Staff said customers were shocked or incredulous at the news.
There was no mention of whether staff could have jobs at the new restaurant. It would be at least six months before the new restaurant opened, another staff member said.
KENT BLECHYNDEN / Things
Astoria will close in three weeks, but there are no signs outside or on its social media advertising it.
Some of the staff had already left to look for new jobs before Christmas “once some of us found out that we weren’t going to get severance pay.”
Another staff member Things He spoke said they would leave hospitality entirely after closing.
The justification given to the staff was that the coffee was unwilling or unable to raise the price of the coffee, yet Yu Group had bought other stores and renovated others, they said.
“This is one of the most historic places in the city, why would you close it?”
Yu Group owns majority shares in several Wellington businesses, including Mian Bar, Choice Bros Brewing, Arcade Burger, Husk Bar, Atlas and Cinderella Bistro.
Astoria has been a popular place for politicians and public servants during its nearly quarter century of operation.
Earlier this year, it was ranked No. 12 on a list of Wellington’s 40 Best Coffees by blogging website TopReviews.
