A cult fish restaurant has made the heartbreaking decision to permanently close its doors due to skyrocketing costs.
Angler, based in Stirling in Adelaide’s south-east, will close its operations on Sunday.
Co-founder Amanda Prance told Daily Mail Australia the move was made due to fewer customers coming through the doors.
We’ve been here for five years and [we are] “We are not renewing the lease due to the huge drop in local customer traffic,” she said.
Ms Prance said the business would continue to operate at the Adelaide Central Market.
Mrs. Prance announced last week via social media that she becoming difficult to keep the restaurant open.
“Unfortunately, our business is simply not viable at this location,” she wrote.
She said the restaurant had been in trouble for some time due to rising rent and utility bills.
Angler, based in Stirling in Adelaide’s south-east, will cease trading on Sunday after its owners decided not to renew its lease (stock image)
“The rent has gone up every year… we’ve probably seen a ten percent increase in the electric bill and gas is a problem for us.”
In recent years, several eateries and convenience stores in the area have closed due to declining customer numbers.
Locals are still reeling from the massive fire that destroyed the Woolworths store at Stirling Shopping Village in October 2023.
The fire also damaged a number of nearby businesses, including a butcher shop, which has reduced the number of customers visiting the area.
“It is important not to ignore the ‘slow death’ of stores that were once a fixture of our communities,” Ms. Prance wrote.
“While we can choose to blame our circumstances or shirk responsibility, the simple truth is that local businesses cannot thrive without the people in our communities.”
Angler was founded in 2019 by Mrs Prance along with Chef Sam Prance Smith.
The restaurant was known for its sustainable, local seafood and was the first restaurant in South Australia to try dry-aged fish.
This cooking technique is used to extract moisture from seafood, making it taste better.
The restaurant was known for serving sustainably sourced local fish (pictured) and was the first restaurant in South Australia to try a dried fish
Dozens of social media users expressed disappointment that the restaurant had to close and lamented the loss of shops and eateries in the area.
“What sad news! It’s crazy that such a great establishment isn’t thriving,” one person wrote.
‘I’m so sorry to hear this. We’ve lost far too many businesses here and the main street is getting more boring by the day,’ wrote another.
“When is the community going to open their eyes and support local businesses?” added a third.
Mrs Prance thanked the staff and all the customers who supported the restaurant.
She said the company will be working with seafood wholesaler Fair Seafood at the Adelaide Central Markets and investing in other areas.