Salvation Army shuts Footscray's Lighthouse Cafe after five months, citing overwhelming demand
The charity says the service outgrew its space and has no new site yet; critics call it a failed experiment after $950,000 in state funding
The Salvation Army has closed its Lighthouse Cafe in central Footscray five months after opening, saying it had been overwhelmed by the number of people coming in, while critics describe the project as a costly failure. The roller door is down at the property on a busy Footscray intersection and the interior has been stripped, leaving a mural and a sign that reads: "The Lighthouse Cafe has outgrown this space and will be relocating to a larger premises." No new location has been lined up.