Gold Coast favourite to move into Brisbane’s upmarket James St

The Fortitude Valley site formerly home to acclaimed eatery Bucci will be taken over by a new Italian restaurant from three of the Gold Coast’s most successful restaurateurs

Fortitude Valley’s up-market James St is set to welcome a new Italian restaurant and bar in the former site of eatery Bucci and activewear store Lululemon.

Gemelli Italian will be the first Brisbane venue for hotshot Gold Coast hospitality brothers James, Paul and Alec Carney, with three other restaurants under the Gemelli brand at Broadbeach, Nobby Beach and Sorrento.

The site of new Italian restaurant and bar Gemelli Italian. Picture: Renae Droop

“We’ve wanted to go there (Brisbane) for a long time,” said James. “We’ve had a few different potential sites but this just felt right to us.”

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The Lululemon site will be turned into a replica of their Broadbeach restaurant, with wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta; while the Bucci space will become a casual, street-style bar inspired by Milan with an aperitivo hour in the afternoon, and music on weekends.

Twins James Carney and Alec Carney will open a new restaurant in Brisbane’s James St. Picture Glenn Hampson

Brisbane architects Hogg and Lamb (Jimmys on the Mall, New Farm Confectionery) are in charge of the design.

The venture is still in the development stage, with the brothers keen to open before the end of the financial year.

We’ll bring you more details on the venue closer to opening.