Australia’s longest-running vegan restaurant, Bodhi, has announced it will be closing its doors for good on 7 August.
Located in Sydney’s Cook Philip Park, Bodhi Restaurant pioneered the concept of vegan yum cha when it first opened 34 years ago.
“My family opened the first Bodhi Vegetarian Restaurant at a time when no one really knew much about vegetarianism or veganism. No one thought – including ourselves – that we would make it past three years in this industry, let alone survive and thrive three generations and 34 years later,” owner, Heaven Leigh, said.
In a recent Q&A with Future Alternative, Leigh mentioned that the restaurant could soon be underdoing a major renovation, while also hinting that interstate expansion could be on the cards.
Her focus now, however, is closer to home with Leigh saying she’s choosing to close the restaurant while it’s still successful. While COVID lockdowns and staff shortages have played a role in her decision, she wants to prioritise her wellbeing and time with her young family, she said.
“I am incredibly passionate about the plant-based space and the community we have built. This is not the end. Thank you to everyone who has visited us, supported us and made our Bodhi dream a reality for more than three decades.”
