A WELL-KNOWN kebab shop in Westcliff appears to have closed after pictures showed it looking “abandoned” inside and empty.
Ali Baba’s Grill in London Road, Westcliff, is now listed online as being “permanently closed” with pictures showing the inside empty and parts of the takeaway ripped out.
The kebab shop is hugely popular with residents and boasts more than 250 reviews and a rating of 4.4 out of five on Google.
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It has been serving customers in the area for decades and was used by many within the community.
Ali Baba’s was contacted for comment by the Echo but is yet to respond.
However, the website states: “Sorry. We are currently closed.”.
Southend resident, Julie Price, has been using the popular restaurant regularly for more than ten years.
She said: “I have been using Ali Baba’s for more than ten years, pretty much every week for a takeaway.
“I have been trying to call them for a few weeks and have had no answer. I also walked past the other day and looked in the window and it looked it like had just bee abandoned.
“No notice on the window or anything either.
“It is a real shame as it has been there for as long as I can remember. It must be 40 years plus.”
Ali Baba’s Grill had a food hygiene inspection in November 2022, where they were rated three out of five.
This includes “good” for the category of hygienic food handling, as well as “generally satisfactory” for management of food safety and cleanliness and condition of facilities and building.
Ms Price added: “It always seemed so busy, so I don’t understand why it appears to have closed so suddenly.
“I am sad that regular customers haven’t been notified either.
“I have never had a problem with the food, and I will really miss getting my weekly take away from Ali Baba’s.
“It is just a real shame to lose such an iconic place, and I am so sad to see it go.”
Ali Baba’s Grill has been contacted for comment by the Echo.
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