Cafe 63 will reopen a new store in Coffee Club founder Emmanuel Drivas’ new retail property
An iconic cafe has done a deal with a long-term rival and will establish a new store in the same High Street where it started 13 years ago before closing in May because of COVID-19.
QLD Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After being forced to close because of the coronavirus pandemic an iconic cafe in a ritzy High Street will open a new store up the road later this year in a property owned by a long-term rival.
Cafe 63 on Racecourse Road in Hamilton closed on May 31, citing the impact of COVID-19.
The original outlet opened 13 years ago and was the springboard for 36 other cafes through Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Gold Coast and one in Perth.
Racecourse Road traders struggle through Kingsford Smith Drive works
Charters Towers Regional Council to upgrade the Racecourse Rd-Paradise St precinct
Ascot kids’ boutique closes doors amid virus impact
However, the company will remain a big presence on the High Street.
It has signed a lease and is completing a fit-out for a flagship store at Coffee Club co-founder Emmanuel Drivis’ owned retail space on the ground floor of the new Silk mixed use development at 118 Racecourse Road.
Since closing, Cafe 63 operated a smaller version of the cafe at 85 Racecourse Road.
Hamish Watson, 63 Group directors said they were excited to open our new Cafe 63 store on Racecourse Road in late October to early November.
“While we don’t have a flagship cafe, we are bringing our latest ideas and developments to the new store, which will be better than ever,” he said.
“Although we didn’t intend to reopen on Racecourse Road, we are looking forward to serving our loyal, dedicated customers in the area again.”
Mr Drivas paid $6m for the entire 600sq m ground floor retail component of Silk.
He started The Coffee Club back in 1989 with Emmanuel Kokoris and has a 40-year history in the retail hospitality industry.
His other properties in the high street include the Coles supermarket across the road
He is chairman of The Coffee Club Franchising Group, which on its website describes him as a “property tycoon and silent achiever”.
The deal was struck by Ray White Commercial’s father and son duo Stephen and Elliot Kidd before construction started on the building and it settled this week.
Elliot Kidd said Mr Drivas wanted to increase his exposure to Racecourse Road.
“As soon as we were presented with the opportunity, we had the ideal buyer in mind,” he said,
“Our longstanding relationship, coupled with our knowledge of the kind of property Emmanuel was after, led to the sale.
Silk was created by Geocal Group and Loucas Zahos Architects. It has 11 large residential apartments over the two top levels, two levels of carparking, almost 700sq m of first level strata titled office space and ground floor retail.
The Kidds also completed the sales of the entire strata titled commercial floor with all seven offices under contract or settled.
