One of the Macarthur region’s leading nightspots has mysteriously closed, after being refused grand plans by the local council.
El Patron Gregory Hills bar and restaurant launched five years ago and had grand plans to become a “hybrid” entertainment model, according to the company’s then chief of operations Rami Taleb.
“People could come and enjoy a meal and drinks at a restaurant and bar facility and then have fun listening to music and maybe dancing later in the evening,” he said.
But Camden Council quashed the application, deeming it not to be “in the public’s interest,” council documents state.
Now, the Lasso Rd venue, located about 55km southwest of Sydney, has entered liquidation with its website stating they are “currently closed” and “not accepting orders”.
El Patron Gregory Hills social media pages have been wiped, with the company marked as being permanently shut down on Google.
Liquidator Steven Staatz, from insolvency firm Vincents, told News Corp he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Queensland on July 14.
“As the appointment is recent, our investigations are in their early stages. Our immediate focus is on reviewing the company’s affairs and engaging with relevant stakeholders throughout the liquidation process,” he said.
“We are unable to provide any further comment at this time.”
Soon after opening, the company lodged a proposal to Camden Council to increase the hours and capacity by 100 patrons.
If approved, it would have seen 231 seated and 100 standing customers allowed inside the venue at one time, documents submitted to council state.
But a pre-application advice letter from a council staff member said the “late-night operations of the premises on a Friday and Saturday evening were more akin to a nightclub as opposed to a ‘restaurant’.”
The Council denied the application with documents stating the venue was not considered inappropriate for the location.
The company reapplied for extended hours two years later which was approved by council.
Company director George Bakirtzidis, 37, has been contacted for comment.