20 million shekel investment down the drain: huge shopping complex in Israel closes
The Italian food hall Eatalia in Petah Tikva, established with a massive investment by leading restaurateurs, has suddenly closed its doors after only 3 years, and ordering systems have been completely blocked, leading to a quick and sad end.
The dream of an Italian food hall in Petah Tikva has reached its quick end: the huge food hall EATALIA, established in the Dan Town project (BSR City complex) with a massive investment of about 20 million shekels, has suddenly closed its doors and ceased operations entirely only 3 years after it opened.
The initial report on the project's collapse was published in the local outlet "Petah Tikva News", and it subsequently became clear that the four dining spots operating at the location were completely shut down. The complex's digital ordering systems were blocked for future dates, direct inquiry mechanisms are unavailable, and the venue's management has so far refrained from issuing an official statement or clarifying the circumstances that led to the dramatic closure.
The complex was opened with great fanfare in May 2023 at the initiative of well-known players in the local restaurant market: restaurateur Itzik Ankonina (one of the founders of Max Brenner and owner of the Joya chain) and chef Kobi Bachar (formerly of Pastel and the Mamilla Hotel). The two wanted to bring to Israel a European concept inspired by leading culinary markets around the world, such as the Eataly chain and the "El Nacional" complex in Barcelona, while adapting it to a kosher dairy kitchen.
EATALIA spanned about 1,800 square meters over two floors and offered about 250 seats. The first floor was dedicated to the retail sale of cheeses, wine, and pastries, while the second floor combined an Italian restaurant alongside specialized bars, a vegetable market, and dessert stalls. Unlike other food markets in Israel that failed due to a model of renting space to franchisees, the partners chose to maintain direct ownership of all stalls to maintain operational efficiency and prevent internal competition.
Despite the entrepreneurs' premise that Italian cuisine enjoys a broad consensus and favorable raw material costs, economic reality has defeated even this ambitious project. The rapid closure highlights once again the inherent risk in operating grandiose food markets in Israel, even when management is concentrated under a single professional entity.
