Spanian closes Newtown kebab shop eight months after opening
Spanian, whose real name is Anthony Lees, has shut his Newtown kebab shop about eight months after it opened, despite heavy opening-day crowds and promotion to his large online following. The apparent closure highlights the difficulty of turning celebrity attention into lasting demand in Sydney’s competitive hospitality market.
Retail expert Barry Urquhart said the short lifespan pointed to possible flaws in the business strategy and warned that influencer endorsements alone may not sustain a venue. The article reports that franchisees pay $250,000 to $350,000 plus GST and cover costs such as rent and staff; with six franchises, fees could have exceeded $1.5 million. The brand still lists four NSW locations, including Newtown.
- Spanian’s Newtown kebab shop has closed after about eight months.
- Opening-day crowds gave way to weak foot traffic.
- Franchisees reportedly pay up to $350,000 plus GST.
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Spanian is the stage name of Anthony Lees, an online personality with a substantial social media following. He has recently invested in a franchise-based kebab business with multiple locations across New South Wales.
The kebab franchise requires significant investment from franchisees, typically between $250,000 and $350,000 plus GST, with additional costs for premises and staff. Spaniis operates six franchises across the state.
Businesses backed by online influencers and celebrities frequently struggle to convert initial public interest into sustained customer demand. Industry analysts note that social media endorsements and promotional efforts, whilst effective for opening-day crowds, rarely prove sufficient on their own to maintain long-term viability in the competitive hospitality sector.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Spanian suddenly shuts down kebab store as retail expert reveals where it all went wrong for the ex-criminal”.