Café de Vili’s goes bankrupt
A much-loved cafe has become the latest hospitality operator to be forced into liquidation as the cost of living crisis continues.
Café de Vili’s in Elizabeth in Adelaide’s north announced its sudden closure on Thursday with a handwritten note taped to the window.
“Company in liquidation + discontinued operations,” it said.
Café de Vili’s became a household name in South Australia thanks to its parent company Villi’s Family Bakery, which distributes baked goods across the country.
Villi’s Family Bakery still has three cafes in operation and has issued a statement clarifying that the Elizabeth location was only a franchisee.
“Café De Vili’s (franchisor) and Vilis Family Bakery are aware that the company that independently owns and operates Café De Vili’s Elizabeth franchise is in liquidation and has ceased operations,” the statement said.
‘The company, Café 24/7 Pty Ltd, trading as Café De Vili’s Elizabeth, was an authorized franchisee of Café De Vili’s. An entity unrelated to the ownership and operation of Vili’s Family Bakery.”
Café De Vili’s still has three locations Mile End, Hillcrest and Blair Athol.
A handwritten sign confirmed the sad demise of Café de Vili’s in Adelaide’s north
Parent company Villi’s Family Bakery has issued a statement acknowledging the closure of one of its franchisees
News of the Elizabeth cafe’s closure sent shockwaves through the community.
‘There goes the last of the pie pushers. Old Villi would be turning in his grave,” wrote one disappointed customer.
Another said: ‘No, they have the best bacon and egg toasties. I feel so sorry for all those lovely workers there.’
A third wrote: ‘Sadly this is a sign of the times. Vili’s are fortunate that they have their main store which is always busy and their network of retail partners is quite strong so they can survive.”
This is the second time in a month that Café de Vili has faced a disaster The Blair Athol location had a similar closure sign stapled to the door in early October.
Villi’s Family Bakery management then stepped in to take control to prevent the cafe from going bankrupt.
“A franchisee of Café De Vili’s, Galaxy Blue Pty Ltd, has ceased operations of Café De Vili at Blair Athol and Vili management will now run this business going forward,” a spokesperson said. the advertiser said at the time.
‘The activities of Café de Vili’s other companies are not affected by this change.’
Café De Vili’s still has three locations still operating in Mile End, Hillcrest and Blair Athol
Vince Fazzalari co-owned the Elizabeth and Blair Athol cafes, both of which would have closed in October had the parent company not saved the Blair Athol location
Vince Fazzalari, former co-owner of the cafes Elizabeth and Blair Athol and Vili employee for many years, previously said Glam Adelaide the Elizabeth store was ‘perfect’.
“We are privileged and honored to give back to the South Australian community with the iconic SA brand,” he said.
“We chose the Elizabeth location because it is the perfect location to continue serving the community.”
The Elizabeth café opened in 2021, six years after the first expansion of Café De Vili in Blair Athol.
Since then, a third franchise has opened in Hillcrest, which promises to be the company’s “largest yet” in 2023.
Café De Vili’s in Miles End is close to the family’s original bakery and was originally opened over thirty years ago to feed exclusively factory workers.
Founder Vilmos Milisits launched the company in 1968, twelve years after his family fled the Hungarian Revolution and emigrated to Adelaide.
Vili’s has gone further has grown into a nationally recognized brand and its pastries can be found in Woolworths, Coles and IGAs across the country.
Mr Milisits died in 2021 at the age of 72.
