HOW WE BROKE THE STORY
tradies came forward claiming they were owed up to $200,000 collectively.
This was despite lessor Oasis providing Bergman and Smith with a financial incentive of $110,000, intended for the build and fit out.
Oasis is the largest single creditor with a total of $158,000. Primary builder Blake Lockhart, of Lockhart Constructions, is the second largest, owed $61,820.
In March, Mr Lockhart said Smith offered him and the other owed tradesmen a coffee machine as insurance that they would be paid.
Mr Lockhart confirmed none of Bergman, Smith or Oasis had been in contact with him to arrange payment, but Smith and Bergman’s bankruptcy would make no difference to him financially.
“As she has no assets it leaves us no better off. It will just be recorded as a bad debt,” he said.
“It still baffles me how they were able to provide a bank guarantee to Oasis.” April 27, 2018
Profin Building Solutions ($35,000), commercial kitchen equipment company Silver Chef ($34,000), Thorn Equipment Funding ($29,000) and Alphera Finance ($28,000) are other creditors out of pocket.
Dragonfly Espresso and Wine Bar also owed more than $21,000 in staff wages. Some employees claim they were not paid for the entire duration of their employment.
Both Smith and Bergman’s mobile numbers have been disconnected and all personal and business social media has been removed. Ms Bergman’s address on the bankruptcy notice is listed as being in Wantirna South, Victoria.
The Bulletin reached out to Oasis for comment.
Dragonfly had been closed since mid April for further renovations to the exterior, funded by Oasis.
Smith and Bergman owned a cafe at Robina called Bear Espresso, which was open for less than eight months before it closed when the couple moved on to a new venture. Before that Smith had worked at Palazzo Versace and Sofitel.