George Calombaris Returns: From Restaurant Collapse to Reality TV Spotlight
George Calombaris, once the golden boy of Melbourne’s culinary scene, is stepping back into the public eye in a way few expected. Known for building the MAdE Establishment empire, which at its peak controlled over 20 venues across Melbourne and Sydney, Calombaris’ career hit a dramatic low with the 2020 voluntary administration of his restaurant group, following a high-profile $7.8 million staff underpayment scandal.
The fallout was swift and widespread. Iconic sites like The Press Club and Elektra on Flinders Street were rebranded and taken over by new operators. Jimmy Grants, the fast-casual souvlaki chain that fueled his rapid expansion, was dismantled, with some locations sold and others simply disappearing. Suburban and interstate ventures such as Hellenic Republic in Brunswick, Brighton and Sydney were either rebranded or closed entirely. Many of these venues continue under new names and ownership, but the Calombaris brand itself largely vanished from the hospitality landscape.
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Despite the collapse, Calombaris is not fading quietly. In 2022, he opened the Hellenic House Project in Highett, marking a return to hospitality on a much smaller scale. Unlike his previous empire-building approach, this is a single-site operation, signaling a more measured and focused step back into the industry.
Now, he is entering a very different kind of arena: reality television. Calombaris will appear as an intruder on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! , giving him a platform to tell his story in his own words. The move is a high-stakes gamble—he faces a global audience eager to see whether this former chef can reclaim public favor. Julia Morris, the show’s host, highlights that this season is about authenticity and personal storytelling, offering viewers a window into the real experiences behind celebrity headlines.
This isn’t just a TV moment—it’s a lesson in redemption and the long shadows cast by public mistakes. Calombaris’ story underscores the consequences of corporate mismanagement and the intense scrutiny faced by high-profile figures. For the hospitality industry, it’s a stark reminder of the importance of compliance, ethics and the fragility of brand reputation. For the public, it raises questions about forgiveness, accountability and the human side of scandal.
As Calombaris navigates both the jungle of reality TV and the complexities of his post-empire career, audiences will be watching closely. Stay with us as this story unfolds and follow the journey of a chef whose rise, fall and tentative return continue to captivate Australia—and now, the world.
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