Wellington restaurant Olive sold, will close end of January
Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Wellington cafe Olive will close its doors at the end of January.
Wellington Burmese restaurant Mabel’s has announced it will close its doors on Christmas eve.
On Monday, Wellington bakery Myrtle announced it will close its doors right before Christmas, announced only a week after winning the title of the capital’s best bakery.
Wellington cafe Olive will close its doors at the end of January.
The Cuba St institution has been sold, the owners said on Tuesday, and would wind up operations in the new year.
But owner and head chef Jamie Morgan said it was an opportunity to celebrate, rather than focus on Wellington’s declining hospitality scene.
“We got made an offer and we accepted it. There are some good owners coming in, great for a refresh,” he said.
“We’ve done 10 years, maybe a bit longer here, and we just decided to make a change. All our lives have changed since we got this place.”
The restaurant has been sold to the team behind the Thistle Inn in Thorndon.
“This has been a massive part of my life for the last 10 years…I’m positive just looking at what’s next and what’s out there for us,” Morgan said.
Morgan said the new owners are in discussions about keeping Olive’s current staff.
Earlier another capital city restaurant, Mabels, announced it will close its doors on Christmas eve.
In a letter posted to social media on Monday, owner of the Burmese restaurant Marlar Boon said her and her husband Ian were ready for the next chapter in their lives.
“We have missed our kids terribly (Ian has worked nights all of our eldest son Maxim’s life) and are looking forward for some Summer 2025 downtime, celebrating my little brother’s wedding and catching up with extended whānau,” she said.
“Mabel’s was my Oo (Uncle) Micky’s last wish before he passed in 2021.”
The restaurant was opened as a tribute to Boon’s late phwa phwa (grandmother) Mabel, who opened New Zealand’s first Burmese restaurant, The Monsoon, in 1978.
“My family came to Aotearoa as Tauiwi in the 70s due to the civil war in Myanmar. Coming here was out of need and that need continues for man of our people in Myanmar enduring the longiest civil war in history,” Boon said.
“My only hope is that Mabel’s gave you a connection to Myanmar and a reason to keep yourselves engaged in this struggle.”
On Monday, Wellington bakery Myrtle announced it will close its doors right before Christmas, announced only a week after winning the title of the capital’s best bakery.
In an Instagram post, owners Sarah Bullock and Jacob Brown said their last day of trade will be December 21.
The bakery won best outstanding bakery at the Welly Hospo Awards.