11 Waymouth St food court offering to include Hello Sarnie, after My Kingdom for a Horse

A previously unused food court in a key CBD precinct now has a second tenant following a multimillion-dollar facelift, but COVID-19 has made hard work of filling the remaining spots.

CBRE associate director Julia Pottenger with Hello Sarnie co-founder Andrew Pearce outside the new outlet at 11 Waymouth St. Picture: Tom Huntley.

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GRAB and go cafe business Hello Sarnie has opened a third outlet in the redesigned food court at 11 Waymouth Street, becoming the second tenant to take advantage of the multimillion-dollar revamp by Sydney celebrity designer Jamie Durie.

Hello Sarnie co-founder Andrew Pearce said he had been looking forward to be part of the space spanning 300 square metres.

Hello Sarnie co-founder Andrew Pearce outside the new outlet at 11 Waymouth St. Picture: Tom Huntley

“We always wanted to be on Waymouth St and being part of a high-calibre offering was important.

“COVID-19 shutdowns had already postponed our planned start in May, and we didn’t want to wait longer,” he said.

Hello Sarnie, which employs 14 staff, opened its first store on Pirie St in 2015, followed by a second one on Gawler Place in 2017 that now also has its main kitchen supplying to the other outlets and fulfilling corporate catering orders.

“Community and government support and our grab and go business model kept us trading through what’s been a nightmare for the industry,” Mr Pearce said.

CBRE associate director Julia Pottenger said COVID-19 had made things tricky, but interest from potential tenants for the remaining five places has been steady.

“It has been pretty hard work though, but everyone has been supportive,” Ms Pottenger said.

“We are negotiating with two parties, including for the flagship restaurant space, so there may be some exciting update soon,” she said.

The updated eating hub is overlooked by the $250m GPO Exchange office tower and a planned Westin hotel, and opens out to a new Telegraph Lane, linking Waymouth and Franklin streets.

Coffee business My Kingdom for a Horse took up a spot in June.