Rosalie Gourmet Market has bought the Foodstore next door and will almost double its size

Labelled Brisbane’s “best deli”, a longstanding gourmet food market in an exclusive inner city precinct has almost doubled in size after buying a neighbouring business.

A renowned gourmet food lovers haven in an exclusive inner west Brisbane suburb has almost doubled in size after buying out its neighbouring supermarket.

The Rosalie Gourmet Market – which has been a fixture at 164 Baroona Rd, Paddington, for 25 years – has purchased the Rosalie Foodstore next door.

The internal wall separating the shops has been knocked down and the large up-market food hall will have 460sq m of space including an office at the back and a commercial kitchen on the first floor.

Owner Raeleen Gough, who bought the business from Norris and Marcia Lewis six years ago, said the opportunity came up after speaking with Foodstore owner Delong Londrid who said he was considering selling the business.

“I’ve been keen to expand for many years and we bought it because I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to expand,” she said.

Rosalie Gourmet Market owner Rae Gough.

Over the next couple months new flooring, ceiling, lighting and shelving and more will be added to the new “super-store”.

Ms Gough has negotiated a five-year lease on the premises said she will gradually phase out a number of the product lines from the Foodstore and provide a blended version of convenience lines and the gourmet food products.

With the acquisition, the family business also gains a good size coldroom for back-office usage which will enable the food hall to offer more refrigerated and frozen lines as well as expanding the kitchenware offers, gourmet cooking ingredients, hampers and much more.

Rosalie Gourmet Market offers about 3000 lines from around the world including cheeses, freshly made artisan breads, patisserie items, cured meats and charcuterie, fresh fruit and vegetables, locally grown and imported flowers and take home meals.

Ms Gough said they have a loyal following which was evident during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Since Covid hit it’s been a blessing for us but a challenge for others,” she said.

“During lockdowns a lot of people were working from home and we received the benefit of people buying their lunch. Our catering business has grown over the last couple of years as well as our online business.”