Yiayia’s Cafe in Haberfield, Sydney abused after switching out vegan menu for meat

A family-run café has become the target of vile abuse after the business was forced to shift away from its vegan-only menu to save themselves from going broke.

Natalie Yuannakopoulos and her mother, Fay, run Yiayia’s Garden in the inner Sydney suburb of Haberfield, but found themselves in financial trouble after they switched their menu to vegan only.

When Natalie – a vegan – joined her mum in running the cafe, she felt uncomfortable with animal products being used and so they decided to ditch meat from the menu. 

The cafe was already struggling but six months down the track the business was leaking money and was on the brink of closing down. 

Not enough customers were enticed by the vegan menu so the mother-and-daughter duo decided to revert back to a more traditional menu but serve only ethically sourced products. 

But the menu change hasn’t gone down well with everyone, with the family abused by vengeful vegans.

‘Words like murderer and rapist and things like that were thrown around about me,’ Natalie told A Current Affair.

‘They say everything I’ve ever said was fake, I never cared about the animals and that I sell my soul for money.’

The business was slammed on both social media and on the business’ Google reviews for ‘turning their back’ on animal liberation to chase a profit.

‘No such thing as ethical slaughter, regardless of how much you lie to try and convince yourself you haven’t turned your back on your morals for profit. Cya,’ one social media comment read.

‘I supported this business because it supported the fight for animal liberation but that’s no longer the case so I will definitely not be coming back here anymore,’ a Google review of the business stated.

‘Very disappointing, the animals will have to pay the price for the profits you make,’ another person on social media commented.

Fay said the verbal harassment was taking a heavy toll.

‘It really upset me that people could be so cruel and awful,’ she said. 

‘Things like ”you’re putting profits before animals, I hope you go broke, you should be ashamed of yourselves”,’ Natalie added. 

Their vegan customers were out for blood slandering their name and reputation online

The café is slowly getting back on its feet, reopening on February 21 and the family says they’re confident they are turning things around.

‘A huge thank you to everyone who has already left us messages of support,’ they wrote on Facebook after the TV segment aired.

‘It has been a really tough year for our business, and to top it off the attacks have had us feeling quite demoralised and alone at times… so it is feeling like a big warm hug from Australia right now.’

Natalie said she is no longer a vegan after the ordeal.

The café is slowly getting back on its feet, reopening on February 21 and the family say they are confident they are turning things around