Tamarind Closed Down [Reopening]

GuessWho2009

Just seen tamarind have closed down, they have a notice on there door saying they have ceased trading. Anyone know why, always thought it was the busiest restaurant in Galway

ArtyC

I'd imagine high rent- although I haven't seen that theyre relocating.

GuessWho2009

if they were moving reckon they would have a sign up saying they were moving. still though high rent or not they turned me away a few times recently as the restaurant was full

Oliver_Ahern

Very surprised by this. Always looked like they did great business every time I was there or going past. Unfortunately, if it is rent, this is yet more proof that rents remain untenable here in Galway and need to come down before more businesses suffer the same fate! It's sad because this place did lovely food in a great location!

buzz11

Oliver_Ahern wrote: »

this is yet more proof that rents remain untenable here in Galway and need to come down before more businesses suffer the same fate!

Council rates are also a major overhead and aren't negotiable so can put a business under if the finances are under pressure.

grainnereills

It wasnt rent or rates.

biko

Does anyone have any actual information on what happened, like a source?
Otherwise it just rumours/speculation.

beeintheknow

T'was the illuminati.

jewelstar

Hardly a surprise. With the amount of Groupon deals they have been doing over the past year, the writing was on the wall. They shouldn't have needed to do them so often given their location.

Oliver_Ahern

beeintheknow wrote: »

T'was the illuminati.

Call me dumb but what does this mean? Some kind of free mason/di vinchi craic?

inisboffin

Oliver_Ahern wrote: »

Call me dumb but what does this mean? Some kind of free mason/di vinchi craic?

I read it as a joke...

beeintheknow

inisboffin wrote: »

I read it as a joke...

Illuminati are no joke, I assure you. The invisible hand at work once more.

BhoscaCapall

What's the incentive for landlords/council to charge such high rates? If a busy restaurant can't afford it who do they think is going to come in and meet their demands? Now instead of having Tamarind paying what they were paying, they have an empty premises making them €0.00. I know it's a simplistic approach but it doesn't make sense.

Cerulean Chicken

Hmm, at the SCCUL Awards last week there was an empty table with a sign on it that I think said "XXX trading as Tamarind" (I can't remember the XXX bit, but it was initials and "Foods" I think), they didn't show up at all as far as I know, no wonder if they were about to close down.

Oliver_Ahern

inisboffin wrote: »

I read it as a joke...

Sorry, I must've left my sense of humour at home yesterday. I was searching for some real life conspiracy theory :mad:

Greaney

Hoping this isn't off topic too much, but since were on the subjects of rents, how come it's so hard for the government to 'not interfere' with commercial rents and at the same time, put rent allowance recipients and their landlords under such pressure to drop rents??

There's no real will to tackle this issue on a political level. In Athenry we've nigh on 30 empty shops (it really fell's like almost half the town is empty units) and when the recession bit, a few business's played musical shop units to get a more sustainable rent. They were able to get up to a 50% drop in rent. It feel's like there are very few owner occupiers anymore! How can a person run a business that can raise a family anymore?

mufan

i and my family have bought those groupon vouchers and im so angry that we are going to be out that money iv sent an email to living social but im sure like everything else it will take them an age to reply and they will deny liability. Sure to god that the owners knew back in October that business was in trouble, yet they were allowed to advertise with groupon and take customers money knowing that they would probably be not in business in the forseable future.

SimonLynch

Cerulean Chicken wrote: »

Hmm, at the SCCUL Awards last week there was an empty table with a sign on it that I think said "XXX trading as Tamarind" (I can't remember the XXX bit, but it was initials and "Foods" I think), they didn't show up at all as far as I know, no wonder if they were about to close down.

It's LG Foods, there's a notice of a meeting of creditors to appoint a liquidator on Vision-Net.

Mrs OBumble

Greaney wrote: »

Hoping this isn't off topic too much, but since were on the subjects of rents, how come it's so hard for the government to 'not interfere' with commercial rents and at the same time, put rent allowance recipients and their landlords under such pressure to drop rents???

There's probably a better forum for this (though I'm not sure what it is) .. . but I suspect that part of the answer is that the government is not generally subsidising rents for commercial premises, while it is providing considerable subsidies to those "lucky" enough to qualify for rent-allowance.

crusher000

I loved the spot and it was always full, deals or no deals turnover was high. The reason they had alot of voucher deals was probably to rake in the cash before closing. high tail it out of there then. This isn't definite just me speculating. A few businesses that have closed did this in the past.

mufan

crusher000 wrote: »

I loved the spot and it was always full, deals or no deals turnover was high. The reason they had alot of voucher deals was probably to rake in the cash before closing. high tail it out of there then. This isn't definite just me speculating. A few businesses that have closed did this in the past.

Surely to god businesses cannot do this take up these voucher deals rake in the cash knowing they cannot honour them in the future.

irisheddie85

mufan wrote: »

i and my family have bought those groupon vouchers and im so angry that we are going to be out that money iv sent an email to living social but im sure like everything else it will take them an age to reply and they will deny liability. Sure to god that the owners knew back in October that business was in trouble, yet they were allowed to advertise with groupon and take customers money knowing that they would probably be not in business in the forseable future.

i know with some of these deals the business gets no money until the voucher is redeemed that is why the are so careful in getting voucher information when you use them so you should be able to get your money back.

crusher000

Happened to an Aunt of mine two years ago. Bought a gift voucher for a colleague she worked with in a business across the road from them. It closed down two days later (I kid you not). When the trades men came to take out the fittings inside the business she got in and confronted the owner. Told she was trespassing and to get out. Story didn't end their as my aunt followed the person to their home. Refused to leave from outside the house until she got her money back. This business knew they were closing and sold as many vouchers as they dould before they finished trading. Cash in the hand boys and good luck to the plebs.

Sponge Bob

crusher000 wrote: »

Happened to an Aunt of mine two years ago. Bought a gift voucher for a colleague she worked with in a business across the road from them. It closed down two days later (I kid you not).

Was that a Galway business ??? Has the person set up another since?

crusher000

Yes it was a Galway business. Not sure if they are trading again. My aunt got the money so the person involved could get her of their lawn. I'm not saying this is what Tamaring has done, as Living Social will most likely refund voucher money, but if they knew they were closing introduce a deal, foot fall will increase, vouchers honored will be paid to them and they have increased their takings before they pull the plug.

Sponge Bob

I'd be more interested in finding out whether that fraudster who tried to diddle your aunt was back for another few scoops. I have heard of serious issues with Livingsocial and refunds but you can charge back your credit card.

crusher000

Off subject as well but let this be a lesson to people buying vouchers as gifts for Christmas. Why not just give cash or buy the one for all gift vouchers?. Unscrupulous traders will home in on the gift voucher trade and then close the doors. Despicable.

Sponge Bob

crusher000 wrote: »

Unscrupulous traders will home in on the gift voucher trade and then close the doors. Despicable.

Gift vouchers are to be avoided this christmas save from very long established stores and restaurants, for sure.

Cerulean Chicken

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Gift vouchers are to be avoided this christmas save from very long established stores and restaurants, for sure.

I remember hearing on Gerry Ryan about a guy who had bought his wife €700 worth of a voucher for one of the Travel companies to celebrate the birth of their baby, he bought it in cash, and the company was gone very soon after. He contacted Gerry to see what he could do, but there was nothing. If he'd paid by credit card he might have been able to get it back, but the cash was just gone. I only ever get people One4All's or for not very big amounts, €20-40 etc.

dloob

mufan wrote: »

Surely to god businesses cannot do this take up these voucher deals rake in the cash knowing they cannot honour them in the future.

No the voucher companies keep the money until the voucher is redeemed.
So livingsocial and co have the money.
Their terms say they will refund if the merchant goes out of business so you should get it back.

antoobrien

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

What's the incentive for landlords/council to charge such high rates?

The rates are decided in Dublin not by the local council, so they don't have much of a say in the matter. When there's arrears in the past they have come to agreements regarding settling the debt for a lower amount, but I believe this practice is no longer allowed.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

There's probably a better forum for this (though I'm not sure what it is) .. . but I suspect that part of the answer is that the government is not generally subsidising rents for commercial premises, while it is providing considerable subsidies to those "lucky" enough to qualify for rent-allowance.

Probably best to ask in legal, but my take on it is that there is a contact to pay a certain rent or lease and the state cannot interfere with it as long as it's not illegal.

It's also worth pointing out that it's unconstitutional for a law to be retroactively applied, so if a current lease/contract has a no downward negotiation clause, then the contract/lease has to expire before it can change.

cooperguy

Its a pity, iv been in that place a few times and always got good food. Always seemed like there was a few people in there aswell, never looked like it was struggling.

I thought the vouchers they gave were set up in a good way so that it wouldnt cost them too much. The voucher cost 15 and got you €30 credit. A 2 course dinner for 2 with a bottle of wine (which is what I bought when I was in there) cost significantly more that 30. So the voucher got you a bit of a discount but the restaurant was still making money on the meal. It wasnt like some of those vouchers where a business makes a loss on every one sold.

Seaneh

The people who owned Tamarind also own Olives in Salthill, so if you have a voucher and want to ask them to refund or honour it, contact the owners/management of Olives.

buzz11

antoobrien wrote: »

The rates are decided in Dublin not by the local council, so they don't have much of a say in the matter.

They are not decided in Dublin;

What is the Annual Rate on Valuation & how is it calculated?
Following the consideration of the Annual Budget each year, the City Councillors determine the Annual Rate on Valuation for the following year. The Annual Rate on Valuation is the product obtained when the total shortfall in Council income is divided by the cumulative total of all valuations of rateable premises in the city. The shortfall between the cost of providing all services and the income from Government funding is recouped through the collection of Rates

More information here;
http://www.galwaycity.ie/AllServices/Finance/AccountsReceivable/CommercialRates/

holly8

mufan wrote: »

i and my family have bought those groupon vouchers and im so angry that we are going to be out that money iv sent an email to living social but im sure like everything else it will take them an age to reply and they will deny liability. Sure to god that the owners knew back in October that business was in trouble, yet they were allowed to advertise with groupon and take customers money knowing that they would probably be not in business in the forseable future.

I have sent the email too looking for a refund - lets see what heppens

SparKing

Seaneh wrote: »

The people who owned Tamarind also own Olives in Salthill, so if you have a voucher and want to ask them to refund or honour it, contact the owners/management of Olives.

Are you sure?
I doubt that very much.

irisheddie85

Seaneh wrote: »

The people who owned Tamarind also own Olives in Salthill, so if you have a voucher and want to ask them to refund or honour it, contact the owners/management of Olives.

don't think this is right and even if it is there is no way one restaurant will redeem a voucher for another. even the two lasalsa in town won't redeem vouchers for the other

GuessWho2009

Seaneh wrote: »

The people who owned Tamarind also own Olives in Salthill, so if you have a voucher and want to ask them to refund or honour it, contact the owners/management of Olives.

100% not true. Can guarantee they were different owners. was looking on trip advisor also and people the last month was giving faitly bad review about how cold the restaurant was so chances are they knocked of the heat is well to save money so looks like they saw it coming

GuessWho2009

irisheddie85 wrote: »

don't think this is right and even if it is there is no way one restaurant will redeem a voucher for another. even the two lasalsa in town won't redeem vouchers for the other

Them la salsa are different owners is well. Same family but different owners different delivery services, different prices ect...

Owldshtok

Just a wild card comment here,I have no insights into this at all.If business was still reasonably good for Tamarind the owner could have decided to close for any number of possible reasons other than difficult trading conditions.

MrTsSnickers

grainnereills wrote: »

It wasnt rent or rates.

Go on....

Seaneh

GuessWho2009 wrote: »

100% not true. Can guarantee they were different owners. was looking on trip advisor also and people the last month was giving faitly bad review about how cold the restaurant was so chances are they knocked of the heat is well to save money so looks like they saw it coming

Well my ex used to work in Pan Thai in Oranmore, was her who told me that the owners of Pan Thai owned Tamarind and Olives.

If I'm wrong, then I retract my previous post.

dinneenp

mufan wrote: »

i and my family have bought those groupon vouchers and im so angry that we are going to be out that money iv sent an email to living social but im sure like everything else it will take them an age to reply and they will deny liability. Sure to god that the owners knew back in October that business was in trouble, yet they were allowed to advertise with groupon and take customers money knowing that they would probably be not in business in the forseable future.

hopefuly you'll get the credit amount to use on another LS deal .I bought a photobook voucher from one of the deal companies. had problems with the company meant to print thte book. the deal site credited my account by the amount.

e-mail, tweet LS, check if there's a phone number.

I really liked the place, lovely food.
it's a hard one about a company still taking money when 'they know they're going out of business'. I'd imagine there's always a chance they mightn't but if they stop taking money in it's going to increase the chance of them closing. they have to keep trading in the hope they stay open.

StonedRaider

grainnereills wrote: »

It wasnt rent or rates.

Owner/s of tamarind don't own the place mentioned in salthill

GuessWho2009

heard of someone else but its only hear say that it was owned by a married couple that had a bad break up but that doesnt explain the liquidation. just the restaurant used to be wedged every weekend, very hard to get a table if u just walk in, and it sat about 160 people and weekdays seemed busy enough is well, they would of had a good summer especially with volvo ocean race

2rkehij30qtza5

Ate in Tarmarind a few months back and the food wasn't great. Orders were mixed up too. I swore never to return. Was a pity but we had guests and thought Tanaribd was a sure thing but turned out to be such a let-down. Nonetheless it's sad to see another business go under.

Lon Dubh

There shouldn't be a problem for anyone getting money back from any of the voucher deal sites (e.g. Living Social) due to a business closing down. I know someone who had a voucher via one of these discount voucher sites for a restaurant which subsequently closed (the lease was up and they decided not to renew). My friends rang the voucher company and they were offered to either get their money back, or an equivalent voucher for a restaurant connected to the one which had shut down. They went with getting their money back.

Very sad to see this restaurant shut down as I really liked it. I ate their quite recently (on a voucher as it happens).

dec25532

As regard these groupon or ls vouchers, I had one for a hotel in Clare that expired months ago simply because they were booked up all of the weekends that I wanted during the summer. However, they are still honouring it and we are going next weekend even though they legally don't have to. I spoke to them nice, though, and explained the situation.

biko

Too bad they've gone, I've eaten there over 50 times and never had a bad meal.

Seaneh

biko wrote: »

Too bad they've gone, I've eaten there over 50 times and never had a bad meal.

Yeah, there was a time where for about 2 years I ate there every other sunday with a group of friends for lunch, and even though I got bored of their menu at times, I never had a meal I wasn't happy with!

I especially liked their Tom Yum.

antoobrien

There's an article in this week's sentinel (reading the online version, no link) with some numbers regarding what they owed.

Has assets of 434,000 with debts of 470,000. The directors of the company are among the biggest creditors - owed 172,000 in 2011, with trade creditors being owed about 40k.