Companies behind two Gold Coast eateries owe thousands to staff and tax office

Two eateries on the Gold Coast owe more than $40,000 to staff but are still open for business, according to a report by the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Documents have revealed that the companies behind the Commune Cafe at Burleigh and Etsu Izakaya collapsed into liquidation, owing $717,352 in tax, $17,000 to American Express and $40,000 in superannuation to 44 staff members. The companies also loaned almost $200,000 to a related company before going under.

Restaurateurs Mitch and Nerissa McCluskey are behind the two failed companies that owned both venues, and the new companies that acquired them.

Before going into liquidation, Commune had just $26.99 in its bank accounts, while Etsu had $2.08. The couple declared that Commune owed $9812 in superannuation to 23 staff while Etsu owed $30,362 to 21 staff.

Commune owed $247,468 to the tax office and $8250 to the failed Etsu company.

Etsu owed $469,884 tax and $17,000 to American Express, according to the director.

The documents reveal Etsu loaned the couple’s third restaurant, Iku Yakitori, $121,672 before Etsu went into liquidation, while Commune loaned it $76,435.

The company behind Iku Yakitori has not gone into liquidation.

Sheridan Randall, 5^th June 2019