Yesterday, a bombshell hit with the surprise closures of El Santo and Bull & Claw. This represents one of the highest-profile expat-founded F&B closures in recent years, after the surprise closures of Element Fresh and City Shop.

The Camel Group began its journey with The Camel Bar in 2009, back when Shanghai's expat sports bar scene was in its golden age – or at least, we tipsy enough to think so. It was the era of Bryce Jenner's Big Bamboo empire, the go-to for slightly sticky pool tables and artery-clogging burgers, and institutions like City Diner, where you'd inevitably end up at 3am, swearing you'd only ordered a milkshake. These places were more than bars; they were unofficial embassies for a population of expat dreamers, lifers and the just-passing-through crowd, all navigating the wildly rapid pace of Shanghai's ascendancy (and early aughts nightlife).

Over the last 15 years, the group had expanded to have upwards of eight brands under their group umbrella including:

• The Camel Bar / The Smokehouse
• D.O.C GASTRONOMIA ITALIANA: Shanghai's "outrageously Italian ristorante, pizzeria, and bar."
• El Luchador (Suzhou)
• The Blarney Stone: (Still open under new owners)
• El Santo (in Found 158): Popular tex mex place in Found 158
• KIN Urban Thai: Excellent Thai food that doesn't break the wallet on Yongkang Road that was first launched then sold to Camel group by serial Shanghai restauranteur Camden Hague.
• The Bull & Claw: A steak & lobster restaurant in a beautiful historic villa.
• F45 Training

We've been able to confirm that all F&B venues within The Camel Group have closed, with the F45 Brand surviving under a different entity. The Camel Group's Managing Director, Todd Pearson had this to say:

After 15 wonderful years, we've made the difficult decision to close all of our Shanghai bar and restaurant venues as of December 1st. It's been an incredible journey, but... the current challenging market environment have made it unsustainable to continue. I'm incredibly proud of the talented team of chefs, bartenders, service staff and managers who helped bring so many venues to life in Shanghai over the years. There have been countless unforgettable nights out, endless brunches and amazing dinners. But, as with all good things, this chapter has come to an end.

Word on the street, is that it's possible not all of Camel Group's venues will enter permanent oblivion, with some, particularly their most profitable venues, re-opening with new owners.

Fans of popular quiz nights are being relocated to BNC bar on Tuesday, and a Wednesday venue is as yet to be determined.

This is pretty surprising given that venues like KIN Urban Thai were especially popular, and consistently packed. It was a love letter by Camden Hague partnering with Camel Group, which she later sold her shares too. We asked about how KIN Urban Thai came about, and she reminisced:

I went to Chiang Mai a few times because a friend moved back there – he's Thai – and I became really obsessed with northern Thai food so I wanted to open a place to give access to that food in Shanghai! I had been speaking to Camel Group at that point about a potential venue with them so ended up working with them for it because they had a venue ready to go. Menu was centered around khao soi but did a lot of research in Chiang Mai – going around to many many venues and just seeing what the "classics" should be – what real Thai people from that region most crave – and did all the design etc to try and bring a venue from that region to life as best possible.

Also went to Samsen and a few other venues in HK which are "one step removed" from actual Thailand to see what worked as adapted in a different market.

For chef, brought in Simon Sunwoo who had cooked in Thailand with a mutual friend of ours so had a bit of experience with the flavors/processes. He did a great job.

The notice is translated as follows:

Here is the translated content of the document:

Notification

To: Camel Hospitality Group (Shanghai) Co Ltd

Based on the rental agreement (Article 4-2) and the supplementary agreement between both parties, it is stipulated that Party B must pay the rent in advance. Specifically, Party B should pay the rent for each month to Party A before the 25th of the previous month. If Party B fails to pay the rent on time, a late fee of 0.1% of the overdue amount will be charged daily from the 1st of each month.

Party A is entitled to deduct any overdue payment from the rental deposit, excluding the late fee. Upon receiving a notice from Party A, Party B must make the payment immediately to supplement the difference in the rental deposit. If Party B delays payment for more than 15 days, Party A reserves the right to terminate the agreement, retain the deposit, recover the leased property, and take legal action based on the terms of the contract.

As of November 25, 2024, your company owes overdue rent totaling 360,000 RMB (Three hundred sixty thousand RMB).

We hereby formally notify your company to promptly pay the overdue rent. Failure to pay the above-mentioned amount has already severely impacted the normal operations of our company. We request that your company proactively communicate and coordinate follow-up matters with the landlord.

If your company does not provide a reply by December 2, 2024, we will repossess the property in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Special Notice!

Date: November 26, 2024

The internal notice translated into English:

Dear Employees,

In recent years, the company has faced significant operational difficulties. Despite adopting various self-rescue measures, it is no longer sustainable. The company has been compelled to make the difficult decision to cease operations at its stores starting from **December 2, 2024**, and terminate the labor contracts with all employees.

We sincerely thank all employees for their efforts and contributions over the years. The company's decision to reach this point is an outcome of no other alternatives.

The company promises to prioritize settling employees' severance packages promptly as part of the liquidation process. At the same time, we have reached out to related industry partners to secure some employment opportunities for employees. Interested individuals can contact the company for assistance, and the company will provide support and recommendations.

Date: December 1, 2024

Company Seal: Camel Hospitality Group (Shanghai) Co Ltd

This one hits differently. When City Shop folded, no one batted an eye – how could it compete with the slick efficiency of Japanese imports like City Super or the sheer convenient embrace of Epermarket? But The Camel Group? That's a real shock.

For more than a decade, it's been a cornerstone of the expat experience in Shanghai, thanks to Australian-born Todd Pearson and his crew. They didn't just pour beers; they built a community. The Camel especially wasn't just a sports bar – it was where you watched the World Cup at 2am, sweated out pub quizzes that spiraled into debates about obscure Simpsons quotes, or met half of your WeChat contacts.

Sure, it's nostalgia talking, but as some will likely say... also, "the end of an era." This get's said quite often as of late, but for a city like Shanghai, this very well may be just the beginning of the city's next era. There is no shortage of new restaurants in Shanghai, including new ventures that seem to continue to push the envelope in the city's expanding quest for gravitas and prestige.

Goodbye Camel Group, and thank you for the memories. But... maybe we'll see some of you around the corner?