Melbourne’s Komeyui Japanese Restaurant to open an eatery in Brisbane

A wealthy Melbourne family is bringing a popular high-end Japanese restaurant to Brisbane and it will include Australia’s longest sushi bar.

Komeyui Japanese Restaurant is coming to Brisbane this year.

A FAMILY company’s connection with a high-end Japanese restaurant convinced them to open their first eatery outside of Melbourne with plans for Australia’s longest sushi bar.

Komeyui Japanese Restaurant has a seven-year lease on the CR Kennedy & Co owned former Australian Federal Police building at 203-207 Wharf St, Spring Hill, which it bought last year for $19.5m.

CR Kennedy & Company is a leading importer and distributor of photographic, hunting, geospatial, medical and surveillance equipment and director Clem Kennedy said the 85-year-old business also has a property portfolio “all over”.

“Komeyui is regarded as one of the best Japanese restaurants and are in a building we owned in South Melbourne,” he said.

Komeyui Japanese Testaurant in Melbourne.

“We showed them what we had in Brisbane which they liked so they’ll be opening their first restaurant outside of Melbourne.

“We have architects working on the restaurant build now and we have plans to build Australia’s longest sushi bar at 20 metres. We are hoping they will be able to open in August.”

Komeyui has secured a 530sq m space internally and also a 300sq m courtyard.

Chef and owner Motomu Kumano is renown for Komeyui’s authentic, handmade traditional Japanese cuisine. The South Melbourne restaurant features a 12-seat sushi countertop, reserved for those ordering the 10-course sushi omakase, or tasting menu.

Mr Kennedy is the third generation of his family to be involved in the Melbourne-based business which was started by his grandfather.

Last year they sold their long-term Queensland headquarters at 80 Kingsford Smith Drive, Albion, for $7.055m and have moved their Brisbane office into the top level of the three-storey 4600sq m former AFP building.

Mr Kennedy said they were renovating the first and second storeys of the building which were currently vacant.

He said it was a “very solid build”.

Komeyui Japanese Restaurant in Melbourne.

“It was built to the highest specifications for the AFP and every wall has been reinforced,” he said.

“Buying this building was an opportunity we couldn’t pass on.”

Mr Kennedy said once 203-207 Wharf St was fully lease they may look at other opportunities in Brisbane.

“We like the future of Brisbane being an Olympic city in the lead-up to 2032,” he said.

“We think there will be growth and opportunities you won’t find in the other cities.”