Community cafe closes down after eight years of service: 'Well done on all you have created'

It's no secret that the food and beverage industry has seen tough challenges over the recent years.

Communities have seen many restaurants and cafes come and go.

This time, a cafe serving up meals and culture has announced its sudden closure after almost a decade of serving Sydney's inner west.


Khamsa Eatery, a vibrant eatery, closed its doors after eight years of serving up a slice of the world through food.

Sara Shaweesh, Khamsa Eatery's owner, infused every dish with stories, traditions, and a taste of home.

Their hearty meals and desserts came from cherished family members' recipes.


compressed-Khamsa Eatery.jpeg
Khamsa Eatery had various meals, drinks, and appetisers available. Image Credit: Instagram/Khamsa Eatery


More than just a cafe, Khamsa eatery doubled as a cultural hub that celebrated Middle Eastern heritage with events.

It was a place where the community could gather to support different causes, learn about traditional crafts, or come together to honour their shared history and culture.

Khamsa Eatery's sudden goodbye came after a dispute with the landlord over a proposed rent increase.


The eatery, which recently moved from Newtown to St Peter's in 2023, faced an insurmountable challenge when the landlord proposed a 50 per cent rent hike.

Despite the cafe's popularity, the financial pressures became too much to bear.

Negotiations fell through, and with a heavy heart, Shaweesh decided it was time to close the shop.

The announcement received an outpouring of support and sadness from loyal customers and community members.

'Well done on all you have created,' one patron wrote.

'Here's to all the magic you'll create in the near future.'

'I will miss you and your father so much, Sarah,' another patron's comment read.

'I will never forget how you gave food to people in need during lockdown and provided a space for me to eat delicious food with my dog, who has been my main support through challenging years.'


Khamsa Eatery's closure highlighted the broader issue small businesses face.

'Without meaningful government support, places like Khamsa are increasingly at risk,' Shaweesh wrote in a post.

'We hope this sparks conversations about the need to protect the diversity and identity that small businesses bring to our communities.'

While the cafe in Sydney may be closing, Shaweesh hinted at a new beginning.

After a well-deserved rest, a fresh project could be on the horizon as they moved to Melbourne.

As we bid farewell to Khamsa Eatery, we remember the importance of supporting the small businesses that enrich our lives in countless ways.

They're more than just shops and cafes—they are a key player in keeping communities alive.
Key Takeaways

  • Khamsa Eatery in Sydney's inner west ceased operations after a dispute over a proposed rent increase.
  • The eatery was a restaurant and a community hub honouring Middle Eastern culture and heritage.
  • Owner Sara Shaweesh paid tribute to her staff and community supporters and highlighted the challenges small businesses face.
  • While the physical location in Sydney has closed, the owner has hinted at the possibility of starting a new project elsewhere.
We wish Khamsa Eatery all the best. In memory of the recently closed cafe, let's talk about our favourite restaurants and memories with them in the comments section below.
 

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Nearly 80 per cent of Australian small to medium businesses (SMBs) have experienced impact to their cash flow in the last 12 months, according to a new survey commissioned by CommBank.

According to the research, the most common factors impacting cash flow are declining revenue (35 per cent), low cash reserves (30 per cent), and seasonal fluctuations (27 per cent).

The vast majority (85 per cent) of surveyed businesses employ one or more specific strategies to manage cash flow, such as reviewing or decreasing expenses (34 per cent), maintaining a cash reserve (27 per cent), finding additional revenue streams (26 per cent), and increasing sales and/or pricing (25 per cent).


More to follow. I reckon that 90% of SME's have no clue as to where they stand financially. In the centre where I live, I see them come and go. Some shops have been vacant for two years. No doubt the ex-tenants have to live up to their obligation and pay dead rent. Only the landlord scores.....
 
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I’m a Queenslander so don’t know this place but I feel some of these issues of increasing rents is because the owners of the properties (housing or commercial) & not necessarily all have bitten off more than THEY can chew and greed for more & more has taken over. Now they can no longer afford their mortgages so the tenant is made to suffer by increasing rents.

Let’s just think back to earlier information of some home owners having two, three, even four or more rentals (probably/possibly) all with mortgages, and we all know that a second and subsequent property comes with higher taxes and repayments to the owner.
 
But a 50% increase is huge and just should not be allowed. I know interest rates have gone up but better to have a tenant than an empty shop. We have a shopping centre in Perth that is putting all the rents up so all the shops are closing. It is not going to help the remaining shops or cafes either . Very short sighted,
 
This story exsasabstes the greed of property ownership, who will take the risk of no further income from that property, new tenants will not exist, so he is left in time to sell or demolition, that's a classic example of,money with no brains!!!
 
50% increase in rent. That's steep. How disappointing for staff and customers.
These landlords need investigating and anyone who goes into business with those sorts of rent increases needs their heads read.
They sign a lease for 5 years and if they go out of business 1 year into the lease they are responsible for the rent.
 
Sad to hear..I hope they open in Melbourne..please do a follow up to this story and let us know if they open..perhaps they'll give a seniors discount? 😀
We will try our best to do a follow-up! 🙏

They have a social media page and they should post future announcements there as well. Their meals look really good in their photos!
 
This story exsasabstes the greed of property ownership, who will take the risk of no further income from that property, new tenants will not exist, so he is left in time to sell or demolition, that's a classic example of,money with no brains!!!
Property owners don't care, I'm sure the government gives them big tax breaks.
We in Armidale NSW lost Big W in a major shopping mall owned by some Asian company. They just kept on upping and upping the rent until it became so ridiculous that Big W just pulled the plug. Asia has many many millionaires from doing business like this worldwide, I spent two years there in that country in the Australian Army and have seen the corruption and greed that was prevalent among the Chinese people there. I had a Chinese wife and was well into their culture as an "Insider". Just goes to show, that some of these outfits don't care a less if their properties are open or not. To them, it's all business.
 
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Why don't you include any Qld locations that are closing? They all seem to be in Sydney & Melbourne!
I'm pretty sure they are all over the country, Donna. I don't know how long we have to put up with this, the government is certainly not helping. All I ever see on the news is the government giving millions to this country and millions to that country etc etc, all while they are spending billions and billions on their new Climate Change Scam.
 
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I'm pretty sure they are all over the country, Donna. I don't know how long we have to put up with this, the government is certainly not helping. All I ever see on the news is the government giving millions to this country and millions to that country etc etc, all while they are spending billions and billions on their new Climate Change Scam.
80% are in trouble... the just don't know it... Unless you can take home $180,000 after tax at the end of the year forget it.....
 
I find it very funny actually. Yes much is owned by Chinese interests. Now the site us vacant I guess they still get the council rates, but will they pay?
 

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