Riot Art & Craft has announced that it will be closing all of its 56 stores after going into liquidation last week.
9News report that staff members were notified of the stores closure – and their jobs – via text message.
“All stores are closed as of today. You are not required to be at work tomorrow,” the text message read.
Owner Michael Kurc said that after 46 years in business “it’s been very traumatic closing doors and beyond that it’s out of my hands, it’s with the liquidator.”
Insolvency firm Dye & Co’s director Nicholas Giasoumi told 9News that employees are estimated to be owed about $3.5 million in wages and entitlements.
Former employees of the store have taken to Twitter to express their outrage at the treatment of their staff.
During the pandemic, we stayed open the entire time, putting staff at risk. We worked ourselves to exhaustion and had to deal with abuse from customers on a daily basis. During this time, me received NO support from head office, and when jobkeeper payments ended (cont.)
— sarah tonin @ nc gang 🌱 (@keocos) October 21, 2020
Staff were constantly reassured that Riot was not closing down and while they had to continue working in near empty shops they themselves assured their loyal client group that the shop would remain open and stock would arrive.
— Alice Noir (@AliceInsomniac) October 24, 2020
FYI if anyone wants to know about what’s happening with the job I lost
This should answer any curiosity you have https://t.co/SzjW1AngLF
— CriticalDaiku ✨🏳️🌈 (@Daikuu_) October 22, 2020
According to the publication, the online side of Riot Art & Craft’s business has been sold and will continue to trade.
