The star-studded St Hotel St Kilda has slipped into liquidation, said to be owing $1.7m to creditors.
Landlord to the pub business, Chris Maiotis, who is also a director of the failed entity, reportedly took possession due to unpaid rent, and liquidators Roger Reidy have been appointed, with over a million dollars owed to suppliers and the ATO.
Following past brushes with controversy, the popular corner pub was renovated and relaunched as the St Hotel in December 2014 under new part-owners Simon Blacher and Paul Nguyen – the team behind the successful Hanoi Hannah and Saigon Sally restaurants. The Hotel has become known as something of a haunt for celebrities and AFL players.
Blacher proclaims that the pub isn’t closing, “just rejigging”, but Roger Reidy director Geoff Handberg advised Maziotis had taken possession of the leasehold business before it went into liquidation.
“I assume the landlord is still in possession and trading it or in the process of entering into a lease with a new company,” Handberg told the Herald Sun.
Located just a block from St Kilda’s notorious Gatwick Hotel, The Saint has not always been saintly. In 2008 it created a scandal and was forced to cancel its ‘No Undie Sundie’ party offering free alcohol to women who took off their panties. In 2009 it again copped flack for its Wednesday night parties, featuring a shirtless dwarf pacing up and down the bar pouring booze directly into people’s mouths.
Although calls to the pub went unanswered, someone has maintained social media presence, today promoting the pub as having “the best happy hours a thirsty person could find!”.
It’s future in the current form remains unknown. Update(s) as information becomes available.
