Another Ballarat entertainment venue has closed, with Mojo’s Lounge and Bar shutting its doors.
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The Armstrong Street South venue posted a short notice on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon:
Hi everyone… Unfortunately I've been left to inform you that Mojos is no more… Kimmie and staff are very sorry for the inconveniences to you all... Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you around the traps…
A source told The Courier a dispute between the venue’s original owners and the current operators led to the former reclaiming fittings from the building, leaving it unable to continue.
As with other recently-closed venues, disappointed punters who had booked events at Mojo’s expressed concern over deposits they had made, with some attempting to make alternative arrangements.
In the meantime, questions have been raised about the future of the Opulance nightclub in Mair Street, with a number of people contacting The Courier about its future.
The venue’s listed telephone number has been disconnected, and messages sent via the Opulance Facebook page were seen but went unanswered on Thursday afternoon. The page has not been updated since July 2018.
Opulance opened in mid-late 2017, with former Royal Mail and Seymour’s licensee Tanya Farrell listed as director. Situated beneath the Ballaarat Club in Dana Street, it recently ran into legal trouble after police discovered the nightclub was operating with a restaurant/cafe licence rather than the appropriate nightclub/bar licence.
A spokesperson for the Ballaarat Club said Opulance is still open with business continuing as usual.
“We have an formal, commercial agreement with the leaseholder and the licensees, and we are talking to them regularly, on a day-to-day basis,” the spokesperson said.
The closures follow a series of Ballarat pubs, liquor institutions and restaurants shutting down. Historic Sebastopol hotel The Royal Mail closed in July with debts approaching $400,000, while the licensees of Seymours in Lydiard Street were locked out by the building’s owners later in the same month, leaving many who had paid deposits for coming functions out of pocket.
Last week The Athletic Club Brewery also closed its doors after the Sheriff’s Office of Victoria took possession of assets. The Courier understands the brewery has significant debts to staff, landlords, suppliers and utility providers,as well as dishonoured sponsorship agreements.
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