News

The Maybe Group and Public end partnership

12 July 2024 By Rupert Hohwieler

Australian hospitality ventures The Maybe Group and Public have split after partnering more than a year ago.

Based in Sydney, The Maybe Group, co-founded by Vince Lombardo and Stefano Catino, is behind some of the city’s most acclaimed food and drink sites, including cocktail bar Maybe Sammy, pizza joint Maybe Frank and coffee and cocktail bar Sammy Junior.

The two groups collaborated on the opening of Sydney’s Mexican-inspired bar El Primo Sanchez in February 2023. In April last year, Public purchased Maybe Sammy for an undisclosed sum.

Following the announcement, The Maybe Group’s venues will continue to be operated and owned by The Maybe Group, while El Primo Sanchez will transition from Public to The Maybe Group through a licence agreement.

Lombardo commented: “Stef and I believe we can best serve our venues by bringing them back under The Maybe Group’s wing, and Jon [Adgemis, Public Hospitality founder] has supported us in this decision.”

It said that despite the end of partnership, operations of the group’s three venues won’t be disrupted.

Catino added: “Although Maybe Sammy and Maybe Frank have been under the Public umbrella for the past year or so, we have continued to operate them as our own, so there will be no change to the guest experience in those venues or El Primo Sanchez as a result of this transition.”

The Spirits Business has approached Public Hospitality for comment.

Inspired by Rat Pack glamour of the 1960s, Maybe Sammy was recently awarded one of the first pins from new bar industry rating system The Pinnacle Guide.

It is also up for Best International Cocktail Bar at this month’s Spirited Awards.

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