Married At First Sight: Stacey Hampton ran an iconic Adelaide chicken shop into the ground

EXCLUSIVE: Stacey Hampton’s crippling depression and breakup with Rebels bikie boss led to the collapse of a chicken shop she bought with money she inherited after her dad’s death

  • Stacey Hampton, 26, bought popular Chicken Castle in Adelaide in April 2016
  • The business went downhill and closed for good in December 2017 
  • Stacey says the takeaway collapsed after she gave birth to her sons and split from Rebels bikie boss Shane Michael Smith
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Married At First Sight’s Stacey Hampton has blamed postnatal depression and the break-up of her relationship with a Rebels bikie boss for the collapse of a once-thriving chicken takeaway shop she and her mother took over in 2016. 

The 26-year-old law graduate bought the Chicken Castle takeaway in the northern Adelaide suburb of Prospect in April 2016 along with her mother Tracey.

They bought into the business with money inherited after the death of her father, who committed suicide, and her brother who was killed in a motorcycle accident 

When they took it over, Chicken Castle was a thriving business with a strong local reputation built up over 28 years of operation but its doors were closed for good in December 2017 – only 20 months after Stacey and her mother took it over. 

Business failure: Married At First Sight’s Stacey Hampton (pictured) has revealed that her Adelaide business failed because she was suffering from crippling postnatal depression

High hopes: The 26-year-old law graduate and her mother Tracey bought the Chicken Castle takeaway on Prospect Road, in the city's northern suburbs, in April 2016

High hopes: The 26-year-old law graduate and her mother Tracey bought the Chicken Castle takeaway on Prospect Road, in the city’s northern suburbs, in April 2016

Stacey told Daily Mail Australia that the business failed due to difficulties in her personal life which prevented her devoting enough time and energy to its operation.

‘My mum and I opened the business in our family trust. It went to s**t and we were losing a lot of money. I’d just given birth, I was suffering with postnatal depression and Shane and I had just split up,’ she admitted. 

Deserted: The restaurant, which first opened in 1978, had gone through three owners before Stacey and Tracey acquired it, but closed shop for good in December 2017. Pictured in 2020

Deserted: The restaurant, which first opened in 1978, had gone through three owners before Stacey and Tracey acquired it, but closed shop for good in December 2017. Pictured in 2020

Stacey split from Rebels bikie boss Shane Michael Smith, the father of her two children, in July 2017, after months of ‘trying to make it work for the kids’.

The former couple share two sons, Kruz, two, and Kosta, four. Smith was not involved with the business.

Stacey, who was paired with company director Michael Goonan on Married At First Sight, was also studying law while running Chicken Castle, adding to her workload. 

Closed: After closing its doors, Chicken Castle now sits idle waiting for a new tenant to resurrect the once-popular eatery, more than two years later

Closed: After closing its doors, Chicken Castle now sits idle waiting for a new tenant to resurrect the once-popular eatery, more than two years later

Investment: Stacey told Daily Mail Australia she had bought Chicken Castle with money she had inherited from the deaths of her father and brother

Investment: Stacey told Daily Mail Australia she had bought Chicken Castle with money she had inherited from the deaths of her father and brother

More than two years on from its closure, Chicken Castle still sits idle waiting for a new owner to resurrect the once-thriving eatery.

All the equipment, including the rotisserie, cash register, display counters, chip fryers, and even coffee cups, are still inside gathering dust.  

Difficult time: While the business was still in operation, Stacey split from Rebels bikie boss Shane Michael Smith (left), the father of her children, after months 'trying to make it work'

Difficult time: While the business was still in operation, Stacey split from Rebels bikie boss Shane Michael Smith (left), the father of her children, after months ‘trying to make it work’

Reality star: Stacey is paired with company director Michael Goonan (left) on MAFS

Reality star: Stacey is paired with company director Michael Goonan (left) on MAFS