Bacash Restaurant owners buy Charles St, Launceston shop

An ex-Tasmanian and her fish chef husband, the duo behind a feted South Yarra restaurant awarded a Chef Hat since 2005, are set for a big announcement in the woman’s home city.

Michael Bacash, who owns South Yarra’s Bacash Restaurant alongside wife Fiona Perkins. Picture Rebecca Michael.

A Tasmanian woman and her renowned fish chef husband are planning a grand homecoming more than 20 years after they founded their award-winning Melbourne seafood restaurant.

Launceston-born Fiona Perkins and her husband Michael Bacash together own South Yarra institution Bacash Restaurant, which they founded in 2001. On Monday night, the Australian Good Food Guide reconferred a Chef Hat on the restaurant for the 17th year in a row.

However, Ms Perkins’ hometown is likely to see more of the duo moving forward after they picked up the freehold title to 172 Charles St for a song – just $850,000.

“We were on our way back from New York and Mike said we should bid on the property,” Ms Perkins said.

Michael Bacash and Fiona Perkins in 2003. Picture: File

“We were told it would go for quite a bit of money as there was a lot of interest. We put our hand up to see what happened.

“It was quite a surprise (we won), I was shocked.

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“I was talking to some Hobart people who were also interested in the property, I think there would have been a few people who walked away saying to themselves they can’t believe they didn’t put in a bid.”

Whiting at Bacash Restaurant. Picture: Rebecca Michael.

Ms Perkins said she had adored that particular strip of shops – 172 Charles St was formerly Salon Nouveau – since her childhood.

“My grandparents used to live in a terrace across the road from Sporties Hotel, I’ve always been looking at buildings on Charles St,” Ms Perkins, who alongside her husband also owns a house at 239 Charles St, said.

“I love that strip – Launceston architecture is beautiful,” she said.

The restaurant gurus – Mr Bacash was first known for Carlton institution Toofey’s, which he opened in 1989 – say they are yet to decide what to do with their new property.

“We’ve often thought about what we’d do in Launceston. We don’t need to do anything in a rush,” Ms Perkins said.

“We spend each January in Launceston. We will take the keys at the end of December and hang out inside every day for four weeks. We want to feel the building, see what’s going on with it, play around with some concepts.”

Ms Perkins said the pair’s decision to buy was driven in part by Launceston burgeoning hospitality scene.

Toofey’s Restaurant owner Michael Bacash (owner) and chef Adrian Richardson in 1997. Picture: File

“Launceston is getting a really fantastic vibe to it, the hospitality scene is evolving in a great direction. You look at Kim Seagram, James and Bianca Welsh from Stillwater, Ricky Evans at Havilah, Launceston is a fantastic destination for hospitality businesses,” she said.

Andy Howell, principal of Howell Property Group, said 172 Charles St was only listed for three weeks amid a red-hot commercial market.

“The commercial sales market is still yielding solid results, particularly for sites that have further development upside or are suited to owner occupiers,” he said.

“The leasing market has been strong for some time now with no signs of that trend changing. We are seeing the highest demand for industrial and office accommodation; that being said, retail and hospitality are still strong performers.”

Originally published as Bacash Restaurant owners buy Charles St, Launceston shop