After nearly six years of service, the beloved Chefs Warehouse at Maison will be closing its doors, citing extenuating circumstances as the reason for the closure.

The restaurant was placed in the Eat Out Top 20 list in 2019 and has been a significant part of the Franschhoek community.

“How do I sum up five and a half years?” says head chef and co-owner David Schneider. “Largely when you run a restaurant it’s emotional – and the staff always come first and that’s the saddest thing for me… breaking up the team. But as a business you sometimes have to rethink the concept and re-evaluate things.”

David says that the restaurant has just come off the back of an incredible season and that it’s not a decision about whether or not the business works.

“We will offer opportunities for all Maison employees within our group and hope that many will choose to continue with us,” says David and co-owner Liam Tomlin.

Liam told Eat Out that the pandemic taught him that change is the only constant, and as devastated as he and David are, they are excited for what’s to come.

“One thing I’ve learnt from COVID is that we need to not become attached. We’re very sad to do it because out of all the restaurants, I think it’s probably my favourite to go to because of the location and the people. But it’s just a business decision we had to make.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, the team thanked their wonderful and faithful customers for their support over the years. Liam and David may be closing this chapter but they will continue working together and diners can look forward to their new Asian-themed venture, The Red Room – at The Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, opening in mid-April.

“The Red Toom is quite exciting for me personally,” says David. “I want to take that next step to become a chef-owner and to support other restaurants in the group.”

Chefs Warehouse at Maison will continue to accept reservations until its final day of service on 28 May for Sunday Lunch.