Mr Crackles closes down after ten years in Sydney’s Oxford Street
One of Sydney’s best-loved takeaway joints closes after more than a decade – as Australia’s cost of living crisis claims another victim
- Mr Crackles is closing both the Syd and Melb locations
- ‘Never recovered’ from lockdown restrictions
A beloved takeaway shop with cult status has unexpectedly closed its doors amid Australia’s deteriorating cost of living.
Mr Crackles opened on Sydney’s Oxford Street in 2013 and then expanded to Melbourne with the opening of a Bourke Street store in 2018.
Mr Crackles, coined as the ‘King of the Midnight Pork Roast’, was loved for his iconic pork cracklings, succulent buns and hot dogs, quickly becoming a favorite among revelers for a late night meal.
However, co-owners Sam Horowitz and Carlos Justo have announced that the doors of both of their locations will be closed for good, citing issues due to the Covid pandemic.
Mr Crackles (pictured, shop in Sydney) has quietly closed the doors of both locations after ‘never recovered’ from the pandemic
The late-night takeaway restaurant served up pork cracklings, sandwiches and hot dogs and quickly garnered a cult following among partiers (pictured, reel)
βThe cost of goods has doubled and sales are still down,β the duo said news.com.au.
βWe relied on a lot of volume that has not returned to normal after Covid.β
They said Sydney’s nightlife never returned to what it was before the pandemic.
“The juice just wasn’t worth pressing anymore,” said the co-owners.
Mr. Crackles’ website has been taken down and both stores have been marked as permanently closed on Google β even though Mr. Crackles’ official Instagram shared a photo to his account last week stating that it was “open late all weekend.”
Regulars have been shocked by news of the collapse of the popular takeaway restaurant, with several people taking to social media to voice their devastation.
‘RIP’, one wrote, ‘was a big fan of yours (sic)’.
“Irate,” said another customer.
Customers are in shock after news of Mr. Crackle’s collapse, with many taking to social media to express their devastation (pictured, customer with roll)
A regular customer wrote: “We are in mourning.”
‘No, this is such a great place. How heartbreaking,’ another shared.
“So sad you left,” said another.
“This is just the worst news,” said one customer.
Mr Horowitz and Mr Justo also owned the fried chicken restaurant Thirsty Bird, with customers noticing that both the Newtown and Potts Point stores had been ’emptied’ by early 2023.
Thirsty Bird’s official Instagram account confirmed the restaurant’s closure, replying “yes” to a customer who asked in the comments section if the Newtown store was “closed for good.”