The Adgemis Public sunder has taken another twist with operation partners The Maybe Group announcing today the immediate end of their tenure together.
Award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy and Randwick pizzeria Maybe Frank will return to The Maybe Group, led by co-founders Vince Lombardo and Stefano Catino.
The operation of El Primo Sanchez in the former Rose, Shamrock & Thistle at Paddington, which this week came to market through mortgagees Australia Pacific, will now be under The Maybe Group banner under licence. This will not affect the sale, and TMG will negotiate continuation of the business with incoming owners when the time comes.
“Stef and I believe we can best serve our venues by bringing them back under The Maybe Group’s wing, and Jon has supported us in this decision,” said Lombardo.
The Group burst into prominence in 2019 when it took an award for Best New Bar in World at Tales of the Cocktail.
Early 2023 a partnership with Jon Adgemis’ growing Public Hospitality group was unveiled, bringing TMG’s operational prowess to the pub outfit.
However, Public began showing signs of trouble later last year, with details emerging suggesting major financial strife amid hundreds of millions in short-term debt and high interest payments.
In November the Love Tilly Group – known for the chic Love Tilly Devine in Darlinghurst, and Fabbrica pizza in the CBD – announced it was ending its service agreement with Public, Group MD Matthew Swieboda describing the decision as “devastatingly” difficult but that they “can no longer, in good faith, continue to run our venues together with Public Hospitality”.
From Friday (12 July) the three venues are officially of the TMG fleet. Catino confirmed the change will not affect day-to-day operations.
“Although Maybe Sammy and Maybe Frank have been under the Public umbrella for the last year or so, we have continued to operate them as our own so there will be no change to the guest experience in those venues or El Primo Sanchez as a result of this transition.”
The Maybe Group says it has agreed to review new collaborations with Public on a venue-by-venue basis.
