Melbourne, Australia – April 29, 2025
By Greek City Times Staff
Tsindos Greek Restaurant, a cherished family-run establishment in Melbourne’s CBD for over four decades, has entered voluntary liquidation, marking the end of an era for the city’s Greek dining scene. Located on Lonsdale Street, the restaurant, known for its traditional Greek banquets, seafood, mezes, and salads, ceased operations on Monday, according to a notice filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Insolvency expert Mark Brereton of HoganSprowles has been appointed as the liquidator to oversee the process. The restaurant, which opened in 1983, was a cornerstone of Melbourne’s Greek precinct, a vibrant stretch of Lonsdale Street between Swanston and Russell Streets. However, the precinct has seen a decline in recent years, with several retailers and hospitality businesses, including the iconic International Cakes bakery, closing their doors.
A Family Legacy
Founded in 1970 by Harry and Eleni Tsindos, the restaurant has been operated by three generations of the Tsindos family. Eleftheria and Fred Tsindos took over in 1984, and their son, Harry Tsindos Jr., has managed the eatery for over a decade. The family’s dedication to authentic Greek cuisine made Tsindos a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.
The three-level building housing Tsindos was sold at auction in mid-2019 for approximately $8.1 million, reportedly $2 million above the reserve, to a Taiwan-based buyer. At the time, the restaurant secured a four-year lease extension, which was nearing its end at the time of liquidation.
Challenges for Melbourne’s Greek Precinct
The closure of Tsindos follows a broader trend of challenges facing Melbourne’s Greek precinct, once a bustling hub of Greek culture and cuisine. The loss of longstanding businesses like International Cakes, which shuttered in 2024 after 60 years, has diminished the area’s vibrancy, reflecting shifting economic and cultural dynamics in the CBD.
The liquidation of Tsindos Greek Restaurant leaves a void in Melbourne’s culinary landscape, as the community mourns the loss of a family-run institution that embodied Greek hospitality for generations.
Photos courtesy of Tsindos Greek Restaurant.
Tags:
Australian Securities and Investments Commission, CBD, Eleftheria Tsindos, family-run, Greek cuisine, Greek Precinct, Harry Tsindos, HoganSprowles, International Cakes, liquidation, Lonsdale Street, Mark Brereton, Melbourne, Tsindos Greek Restaurant