Melbourne’s next chapter in the wake of the world’s longest Covid lockdown overseen by divisive former Premier Daniel Andrews is taking shape as once-shuttered venues prepare to reopen.
Hospitality operators are returning to Melbourne according to property agents, with property firm Fitzroys recently inking five deals for new venues, headlined by a new Japanese restaurant at the former site of the wildly popular Izakaya Den eatery that closed in April.
‘We saw a period of innovation across the CBD following the recession of the 1990s and we’re currently seeing a similar pattern of new hospitality venues opening and laneways being activated as inner-city living takes off again,’ commercial leasing agent James Lockwood said.
The old site of Izakaya Den, which closed its doors after more than 15 years serving up Japanese cuisine, will relaunch as a new high-end restaurant and bar under new operators called Miyazaki Gyu.
Among the other leases, a new deli concept called Peck’s Road will enter the CBD in a prominent Manchester Lane location and hospitality icon Sutinee Suntivatana – behind Humble Rays, Tori’s, restaurant Regale, bar Galer and Burapa – is opening Tori’s Bakery Cafè at a refurbished 124 Exhibition Street.
Mr Lockwood said workers returning to the office, the completion of the Metro Tunnel and more favourable market conditions were sparking up a sleepy Melbourne.
‘Enquiry and deal-making have really picked up in the lead-in to Christmas,’ colleague Franklin Gikas said.
‘We’re seeing plenty of interest for properties with hospitality infrastructure in place, which are time and cost-effective to re-establish.’
Popular Melbourne Japanese restuarant Izakaya Den, which closed earlier this year, will be the site of a new Japanese restaurant and bar Miyazaki Gyu
The restaurant was one of dozens to shut up shop after just making it through lockdowns
Melbourne is still reeling from a world-record 262 days of Covid lockdowns under Andrews, who stepped down as premier in September 2023 after nearly a decade.
The love him-or-hate-him former Premier has already felt the swift rebuke of some locals.
Former AFL star Paul Dimattina, who runs popular South Melbourne venue Lamaro’s Hotel said the former premier would certainly not be welcome there as a guest and he was ‘easily the most hated person’ in Victoria.
The damage Mr Andrews left in the wake of his premiership was damning, Mr Dimattina previously told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The trail of destruction Andrews left is still being felt today, small businesses closed down, endless lockdowns, critical healthcare neglected, children missing out on school… he didn’t help anyone,’ he said.
‘Business was decimated, the CBD is a ghost town, once thriving restaurants are boarded up, its the same at every high street, Chapel St, Lygon St, there’s empty businesses everywhere.
‘What Andrews did is he made running a small business not an easy thing… he’d be better off leaving the state, I’m sure there’s some people who still love him, lefties and that, but he’s not welcome anywhere and we’ll all be better off without seeing him here.’
Former premier Daniel Andrews has shouldered a large portion of the blame for the city’s malaise which has been felt by locals since Covid
Mr Andrews imposed the longest recorded lockdown for its residents while in office
Mr Dimattina became a leading voice opposing Victoria’s Covid response as Mr Andrews imposed the world’s longest periods of lockdown.
Others quickly joined in including fellow restaurateur Chris Lucas who revealed that when Mr Andrews’ wife called up to book a table at his Windsor eatery Hawker Hall, he told her: ‘Sorry, it’s not available.’
Mr Lucas revealed Di Stasio, a famed Melbourne restaurant group that is not part of his hospitality group, also refused Mr Andrews a booking for his birthday around the same period.
The restaurants were not the only places to give Andrews the cold shoulder following his controversial Covid approach.
Members of Melbourne’s prestigious National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula last year banded together to block Mr Andrews’ interest in joining.
And now Jim’s Mowing boss Jim Penman officially cancelled Mr Andrews at his company and said the ex-Victorian premier was banned from using any of his services on Friday.
Mr Penman urged ‘all of Victoria’ should blacklist Mr Andrews going forward.
‘If I was on the tools, I wouldn’t work for him, and I’d encourage any franchisee or independent contractor to do the same,’ Mr Penman told Daily Mail Australia.
Prominent restaurateurs have begun banning Mr Andrews from their venues including Jim’s Mowing Boss Jim Penman who said the former premier is no longer a welcome customer
‘He threw over 100,000 independent contractors out of work for two months, without ANY form of health advice – as has now been proved by our lawsuit.
‘I’ll be very pleased to think he may have to mow his own lawn, clean his own house and cook his own dinner but I’m sure there’s someone out there who likes him who’ll do it for him.
‘It must be humiliating for him [getting backlisted]. He was all powerful sitting on his throne at Spring St, wagging his fingers saying who can work and who can’t – but people now have the power.’
Andrews was Victorian Premier for almost nine years before he resigned in late 2023 and he has taken on a new role at Orygen, a mental health organisation.
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