MANY SMALL business owners are expected to lose money from the closure of one of Dublin’s Michelin star restaurants, Mint.
Creditors of the restaurant in Ranelagh, run by celebrity chef Dylan McGrath, held a meeting in Dublin yesterday.
The closure of the 35-seat restaurant is being blamed on mounting debts and the failure to find an investor, according to people who attended the meeting.
One supplier, who did not wish to be identified, said he was owed more than €10,000.
Michael Anderson of the Wicklow Wine Company said the closure has left him about €6,000 out of pocket. “We are all very sad that it has closed because it is a fine restaurant with a great chef. We have probably spent as much money eating there as we are owed.”
Mr Anderson added that he was concerned the situation had reached the point where suppliers would not get paid. “These things should not be allowed to get this far,” he said.
Another supplier who did not wish to be identified said she was disappointed with the outcome. “We supply goods in good faith and at the end of the day we expect be paid. That is the rule of business.”
She added that she expected more restaurants in the region to follow suit and shut their doors as a result of tough economic conditions.
The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star last year under the hand of McGrath, who returned to Ireland from Britain in 2006. He took over at Mint from Oliver Dunne, who went on to open Bon Appetit in Malahide.
Both restaurants achieved their first Michelin star in 2008. The accolade was confirmed this January, just months before the restaurant closed its doors.
The creditor meeting confirmed speculation that the restaurant had shut down. It had failed to open its doors for business following the Easter break.
Last July, McGrath acknowledged in an interview with RTÉ radio that conditions were becoming more challenging, but he added he was not overly concerned at being more than €200,000 in debt. He was confident he could “trade” his way out of it.
“The restaurant is new in business and it has to go through a certain amount of sacrifice. It’s an investment in the career and the brand,” he said.
Mr McGrath added at that time that he remained positive that the restaurant would survive the recession.
“Oh yeah. Well I hope, in the sense that we wouldn’t be continuing on if we didn’t think we could. I think people are still used to their luxuries and will still remain eating out. Perhaps they’ll do it a little bit less.”
Earlier this year, Mint adjusted its menu to reflect the tighter economic conditions facing its customers. It introduced a five-course tapas menu, including two glasses of wine, for €55.
Mr McGrath said then that he was planning to open a cheaper version of the establishment.