Black Star Pastry To Close All Melbourne Stores at the End of the Week

Black Star Pastry, the chain of cake stores founded by pastry chef Christopher Thé in Sydney in 2008, announced today via an Instagram post that it will permanently close its three Melbourne stores. Locations in St Kilda, at Chadstone Shopping Centre and in the Melbourne CBD will have their last day of service on Sunday August 18.

“Rising costs, a tough economic climate and an industry-wide staffing shortage have forced us to consolidate our team and we will shift our focus to our original home of Sydney,” Black Star Pastry’s post states. “For five years, our team have poured their hearts, passion, and creativity into the making of each cake, pastry and coffee served across our stores.”

The chain, which is now owned by Jackalope Group, will continue to operate its Sydney stores as usual. So Black Star Pastry fans will still be able to get items including the chain’s signature watermelon cake, which the New York Times dubbed “an unofficial national treasure” of Australia in 2019.