Comuna Cantina team leases space in Dexus’ The Annex office tower

Brisbane’s laneway dining and entertainment scene will next year have a new seven-day-a-week outdoor dining and entertainment venue, and it’s being delivered by a team that has already had great success right next door.

The ground floor retail lease by Comuna Cantina at Dexus’ boutique office tower at 12 Creek St, in the Brisbane CBD.

BRISBANE’s emerging laneway culture will boast a new casual dining and entertainment hot spot, which mixes the old with the new.

The team behind one of the hippest new eateries around town Comuna Cantina has secured a 10-year lease on the ground floor of Dexus’ near completed boutique office tower, The Annex, on the corner of Creek and Elizabeth streets.

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The group’s other brand Corbett & Claude, which has been next door at the rear of the historic Claude William Chambers for four and a half years, will be revamped.

They will share the forecourt between the buildings — creating a seven-day a week laneway and outdoor dining and drinking venue.

Founder and chief executive of Comuna Cantina and Corbett & Claude Tim Johnson said he plans to open Comuna Cantina — which offers a new take on South American Mexican street food — around Easter.

Tim Johnson outside Corbett & Claude in the laneway between The Annex and the William Claude Chambers in the Brisbane CBD.

‘We really wanted to create something pretty special and unique in the CBD offering a fresh casual experience in dining,” he said.

“The new, larger format Comuna Cantina will elevate the Comuna brand and offer, with a more refined decor and new food and beverage menu, while maintaining a focus on a fun and

welcoming vibe.

“The Corbett & Claude cafe will be a rebirth of the original Mr Claude, serving both an all day grab-and-go style food and a sit-down full breakfast menu, with a focus on quality, health and convenience.

“These two venues will be brought together across a space spanning internal and external dining and drinking areas along Elizabeth St, Creek St and the Corbett & Claude laneway.”

Dexus's new office tower The Annex, at 12 Creek St, Brisbane CBD. with the historic Claude William Chambers behind.

The new Comuna Cantina will be the brand’s third eatery in Brisbane, joining four Corbett & Claudes, including one in Sydney.

At this stage Dexus has not announced tenants for 7200sq m office component of The Annex, which was designed by BVN.

Set among the heritage-listed Eagle St fig trees, the boutique tower includes an exclusive rooftop “sky terrace” with views over the Brisbane River.

Head of retail leasing at Dexus Eddie Giraldo said the new laneway will be a valuable part of The Annex.

“The opening of this new dining and entertainment precinct will bring life and energy to an iconic city corner, with a focus on festivals, special events, and community activations to be enjoyed by both city workers and visitors seven days a week,” he said.