EXCLUSIVE: GRANITE LOUNGE WORKERS ALLEGE UNPAID WAGES AS LANDLORD CLAIMS BUSINESS LEFT DEBTS BEHIND
What was announced as a temporary closure on 21 August now appears increasingly likely to be permanent, with Granite Lounge’s website offline and Busy Corner Mall already seeking a replacement tenant. Former workers, meanwhile, say they are still waiting for money allegedly owed to them.
EBONY PARK – Questions are mounting over the future of Granite Bar & Lounge at Busy Corner Mall after former employees approached KAE News alleging they have not been paid money owed to them, while the landlord separately claims the business left outstanding obligations involving staff, suppliers and the property owner.
Granite closed its doors on 21 August 2026, with the shutdown initially communicated as a temporary closure.
Almost two months later, however, the establishment has not reopened. Its website is also currently down, and KAE News has learned that the mall is looking for a new tenant for the premises.
While Granite’s owners have not confirmed that the business has permanently closed, the developments increasingly suggest that its run at Busy Corner Mall may be over.
WORKERS SAY THEY ARE STILL OWED MONEY
Former Granite Lounge employees who approached KAE News allege that some wages were already outstanding while the establishment was still trading.
They claim they continued working with the expectation that the outstanding amounts would eventually be settled.
Following the closure, however, workers say attempts to obtain answers about their money have allegedly gone unanswered or failed to provide clarity about when they will be paid.
Some former employees say the situation has caused severe financial hardship, with workers struggling to cover rent, food, transport and other basic living expenses. Some have told KAE News that their circumstances have deteriorated significantly since losing their income.
KAE News has not independently established the individual amounts allegedly owed to each worker.
LANDLORD CLAIMS GRANITE LEFT OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS
KAE News approached the landlord to establish whether Granite Lounge remained a tenant at Busy Corner Mall.
The response revealed that the dispute allegedly extends beyond employees.
“They ran away from suppliers, staff and landlord responsibility. We are trying to get our money back but the lawyers are busy with it,” the landlord told KAE News.
The landlord therefore alleges that outstanding obligations involve not only staff, but also suppliers and the landlord.
These remain allegations. KAE News has not independently established the amounts allegedly owed to the landlord or suppliers, and no finding of liability is being reported.
MALL ALREADY LOOKING FOR GRANITE’S REPLACEMENT
In another indication that Granite’s closure at Busy Corner Mall could be permanent, the mall is now attempting to secure a replacement tenant for the premises.
KAE News understands that several prospective tenants have already been lined up as the property owner works to fill the space previously occupied by Granite.
Combined with the establishment remaining closed since August and its website being offline, the search for a replacement tenant raises serious questions about whether Granite will ever reopen at Busy Corner Mall.
OWNERS FAIL TO RESPOND TO KAE NEWS
KAE News gave Hloniphizwe Justice Mtolo an opportunity to respond to the allegations before publication.
Detailed questions were sent asking whether former employees are owed wages, how many workers are affected, the total amount outstanding, why the alleged payments had not been made and when workers could expect to receive their money.
KAE News also asked Mtolo to respond directly to the landlord’s allegation that Granite left outstanding obligations involving the landlord, suppliers and employees.
Crucially, we asked whether the 21 August closure remains temporary, when Granite intends to reopen, or whether the establishment has now permanently closed.
A deadline of 12:00 on Saturday, 17 October 2026 was provided.
No response had been received by the deadline.
The failure to respond does not establish that the allegations against the owners are true.
IS THIS THE END OF GRANITE AT BUSY CORNER?
Granite Lounge had become one of Ebony Park’s prominent entertainment destinations, regularly hosting major artists, DJs, themed events and weekend experiences.
But the picture today is dramatically different.
The doors have been closed since 21 August. The website is down. Workers allege they haven’t been paid. The landlord alleges money is outstanding. Lawyers are reportedly involved. And the mall is already looking for someone else to occupy the premises.
What was initially described as a temporary closure now increasingly looks like it could be permanent.
Granite’s owners have been given an opportunity to explain what happened and whether the business will return. So far, they have not answered those questions.
For former employees, however, the biggest question is not whether the music will return to Granite.
They want to know when they will receive the money they say they worked for.
KAE News will continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Granite Lounge’s closure and will update readers on the workers’ wage claims, the landlord’s allegations, any response from the owners and developments around a replacement tenant at Busy Corner Mall.
