Two popular Auckland eateries close, after ‘a lot of good times’, so what next for Savor Group?

Wednesday, 8 January 2025

Auckland restaurants Bar Non Solo and MoVida have closed their doors for good, continuing the bad news in hospitality from 2024.

Owner Lucien Law said their lease had run out after 13 years.

He is starting up a new bar and eatery nearby, and in a few months.

A new year and another two eateries have closed their doors for good.

Auckland restaurants Bar Non Solo and MoVida have announced their last day of business was in December. The chief executive of owner Savor Group, Lucien Law, told Stuff he was moving on to a new venture.

Based in Britomart’s Seafarer building, Bar Non Solo had been operating for 13 years, while Law launched MoVida in 2022.

The former specialised in Italian cuisine, while the latter had a Spanish flavour.

Law said their lease in the building was about to run out, and with the slim chance of getting a new one, he felt the time was right to move on to other things.

He said he was opening a new eatery nearby, saying he remained committed to Britomart.

“They’ve got other plans in that building and we found another place in Britomart that we will be moving to. But obviously there's a gap between that one closing and the next one opening.”

Law said he had no real regrets about moving on, and the Seafarer building had been fantastic for his business.

“At the time I took it on, I think we only had a couple of restaurants, so it really was a big part of growing our business to what it is today,” Law said.

“We've had a lot of good times. We had a lot of success. I think the building's done about over $80 million worth of revenue and those things. So it's been significant for us,” Law said.

Despite the tough economic climate for the hospitality industry, Law said business at the two eateries had been going okay.

“I mean, it was fine. It wasn't selling records. But our business as a whole is going pretty well.”

Law believed we had seen the bottom of the tough times in hospitality, and that things can only get better from here.

“I'd like to think we've seen the bottom of it. This is our first new thing that we've taken on, which will be open in four or five months. I don't think it's going to tear off on a big rush next week when everyone comes back, but at the same time, I think we've seen the bottom of it.”

Law says it's bittersweet to be moving on, especially given how loyal the restaurant's customers have been.

“I think there's a lot of customers that had a lot of good memories there. That's the restaurant business, you know, 13 years is a pretty good dig, and leaving it in that way is a good way to leave it. So it's a shame. Hopefully the new thing we do will accommodate them equally as well.”

Law said that around 30 staff in the two restaurants had been offered new jobs within Savor Group as a result of the closures.

The news of the closures come after a year of disruption in hospitality in 2024, which saw multiple bars and restaurants announcing they were closing.

A few of the notable Auckland spots that closed last year included SPQR, Homeland, Pilkington’s, and Madame George.