A beloved Greek deli in the heart of Sydney’s Marrickville will close its doors after more than 50 years, citing the increased prices of doing business.
“After decades of serving this incredible community, the time has come for us to say goodbye,” Lamia Super Deli’s statement noted.
“On 3 August, Lamia Super Deli will close its doors for the final time.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision. Like so many small family businesses, the rising cost of doing business, increasing import prices, and the challenges of the last few years have made it harder and harder to keep going.”
The deli, run by father and son Harry and Jim Cotsinis, became famous over the decades for its range of Greek specialties and sandwiches in Marrickville’s Greek quarters.
“It’s been our second home.
“To every single customer who chose to shop with us, thank you. Whether you came in every day, every week, or only occasionally, your support has meant the world to our family. You gave us the opportunity to do what we loved for so many years, and we will never take that for granted.”
The Cotsinis family said they were proud of all they had built up together and with the community.
“From our family to yours, thank you for your loyalty, your kindness and your friendship,” they said.
“We will miss you all more than words can say.”
Businesses Facing Hard Times
The closure of Lamia Super Deli comes amid an increase in business exits across Australia.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 370,500 businesses closed in the 2024–25 financial year, up from 362,893 in 2023–24, 356,216 in 2022–23 and 305,085 in 2021–22.
Business NSW (New South Wales) said the state’s businesses had experienced a “sharp deterioration” driven by weaker demand, rising costs and global uncertainty.
The recent Business Conditions Survey showed 29 percent of New South Wales (NSW) businesses were planning to reduce staff over the next three months, while only 8 percent were planning to hire new workers.
Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter said the results were a wake-up call.
“NSW is the best state in Australia to do business—the challenge is keeping it that way,” he said in a statement provided to The Epoch Times.
Hunter called for measures such as payroll tax relief and a reduction in red tape to better support the state’s small businesses.
In its 2026–27 state budget, the NSW government announced a range of measures to support small businesses, including a $37 million advisory service offering free guidance, a $3.6 million assistance package for businesses affected by the Great Western Highway closure, and additional funding to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
The budget also includes a two-year freeze on workers’ compensation insurance premiums for employers covered by iCare, the state’s workers’ compensation insurer.
Moreover, it also provides millions of dollars in funding for manufacturing and workforce training to support jobs and business growth, as well as initiatives to give local and Aboriginal businesses greater opportunities to secure government contracts.
