Popular ‘pay as you feel’ restaurant chain goes out of business shutting its final three restaurants after suffering major financial issues
- Lentil As Anything will close its restaurants on February 27 amid financial woes
- Founder Shanaka Fernando said third of meals given out each year are paid for
- Customers can pay for what they think a meal is worth or volunteer to help out
A popular ‘pay what you like’ vegan restaurant chain will shut its doors for good after running out of cash.
The last three remaining Lentil As Anything stores in Melbourne will close on February 27, founder Shanaka Fernando announced.
His Sydney restaurant in Newtown was shut up shop at the end of January, after landlords changed the locks over a row about rent payments during the pandemic.
Mr Fernando’s restaurant chain asked customers to pay only what they thought a meal was worth or else they could pay it back through volunteering.
The last three remaining Lentil As Anything stores in Melbourne will close on February 27, founder Shanaka Fernando announced
Mr Fernando’s restaurant chain asked customers to chip in for how much they thought a meal was worth or to pay back the favour through volunteering.
‘We have tried to hang on as long as we could, but it is now untenable,’ Mr Fernando said in a statement. ‘It breaks my heart’.
Mr Fernando said that Lentil As Anything provided one million meals a year – but just 30 per cent were paid for.
Backpackers and university students made up a chunk of customers and volunteers, causing havoc with the business model when Covid forced border closures.
‘We still provided about 100,000 free meals during the lockdowns, but we are now in a position where our income is not meeting the cost of our outgoings,’ the founder added.
Several GoFundMe fundraising campaigns had been launched by community members determined not to let the beloved business collapse.
Lentil As Anything provided one million meals a year with just 30 per cent being paid for
The business had stores in Newtown in Sydney and Thornbury, St Kilda and Abbotsford in Melbourne
One aimed at raising $400,000 made just $3435, but another created in December made more than $15,000.
A campaign in 2020 raised $373,000 – but the business was unable to stay afloat while the Covid pandemic continued to drastically impact income.
The Sri Lankan born founder started Lentil As Anything in 2000, having spoken to a former Vietnam War correspondent who was since living rough on the streets of St Kilda.
‘I had a dream to provide food to people without them having to worry about money,’ he said.
Mr Fernando first started Lentil As Anything in 2000
‘It breaks my heart because I know that so many of you rely on us as a resource, not just for a meal but for social connection
‘I dearly hope in some way our values and practices will remain and spread in our society.’
Lentil as Anything was subject to a FairWork investigation in 2020 for wage underpayment.
The business had stores in Newtown in Sydney and Thornbury, St Kilda and Abbotsford in Melbourne.
Mr Fernando was awarded Australia’s Local Hero at the 2007 Australian of the Year Awards.
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