Why Chris Lucas’ new top-end Melbourne venue won’t be a private club
The city’s restaurant king reveals his $45 million plan for a four-level venue known as Batard at the top end of Bourke Street.
Chris Lucas in front of his new project Batard at the top of Bourke Street in Melbourne. He says hospitality is the only way to save our cities. Louis Trerise.
Chris Lucas is standing at the top end of Melbourne’s Bourke Street, explaining why he recently bought three historic buildings there and outlining his $45 million plan to create a European-styled entertainment complex complete with restaurant, cigar bar and basement supper club.
One of the city’s most vocal critics of former premier Daniel Andrews, Lucas says the city he loves was smashed during the long COVID-19 lockdowns and is still struggling to recover. National office vacancy rates fell to 14.6 per cent for the six months to July, but Melbourne’s rate increased to a record high of 18 per cent, the Property Council says.
Patrick DurkinBOSS deputy editorPatrick Durkin is Melbourne bureau chief and BOSS deputy editor. He writes on news, business and leadership. Connect with Patrick on Twitter. Email Patrick at pdurkin@afr.com
