Training business Allara Learning plans to reopen a restaurant at the old Urbane site
Foodies rejoice. A new restaurant will open its doors at the same CBD location as one of Brisbane’s most acclaimed eateries which closed last year.
QLD Business
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THE site of an acclaimed CBD restaurant which closed late last year will once again open its doors to Brisbane’s foodies.
Hospitality and vocational training business Allara Learning has secured the lease on a two-level building at 181 Mary Street which was the long-term home of the multi-award winning Urbane restaurant.
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They plan to operate their hospitality training business on Level 1 and open a new stand-alone restaurant and bar venue employing former students on the ground floor and in Spencer Lane by early next year.
The whole-of-building lease was struck by Belle Property Retail’s Nick Kelly and Michael Hanscomb on behalf of the Stack family.
Family representative Tom Stack said the venue has become synonymous with quality dining
and entertaining.
“We weighed up tenant interest from a variety of sectors after Urbane closed its doors at the end of 2019, and strongly considered moving away from food and beverage in the current environment,” he said.
“But there are green shoots in the industry already, and in the medium to long term the site should benefit strongly from Mary Street becoming the obvious link between Queen’s Wharf, Cross River Rail, the Westin and Dexus’ Riverfront project.
”We hope the foodie community is pleased to see it re-open as a restaurant and bar, with an exciting, fresh new look.”
It will be Sydney-based Allara Learning’s first venue in the Brisbane CBD and its first integrated venue in Australia.
The restaurant — which will operate as a separate business — will take up 750sq m on the ground floor, bar and mezzanine level while the education portion of the lease will occupy 450sq m on the upper level.
Mr Stack said Allara Learning’s major shareholders have a strong track record in both owning and operating food/bar venues as well as hospitality training.
“Allara will now have a prime CBD location to train all the staff that will be required to serve in all the new venues expected to open at Queen’s Wharf and along Brisbane’s Eagle Street,” he said.
Allara is moving into the upper level on November 1 and the restaurant venue will be completely refurbished over the coming months and open in early in 2021 — combining the previously separated Urbane and The Euro venues into one.
Mr Kelly said 181 Mary Street drew strong inquiry across many different sectors attracted to the location.
“All parties concerned view the incoming infrastructure development in Brisbane city as a significant drawcard,” he said.
“Allara was attracted to both the building’s versatility to house a commercial training business directly above the venue as well as the building’s location and character which boasts dual frontage.”
