Pacinos family revealed as likely tenants of new Rockhampton Museum of Art restaurant

The building is set to be completed by March 2022 but the restaurant may open earlier. Read here who is going in there. 

As the construction of the new Rockhampton Museum of Art speeds along, the question remains who will take over its prime restaurant and bar space.

Tenders for the lease of the ground level restaurant and bar area closed on June 30, after a Rockhampton Regional Council campaign in partnership with Knight Frank Rockhampton.

The Morning Bulletin can reveal the family behind long-time local Italian restaurant Pacino’s has been selected as the likely tenant.

Council was not able to comment on the deal, as the final lease agreement is still being worked out, but when The Morning Bulletin spoke with the family, the Pilchers, they were really excited about the new venture but also couldn’t comment at this stage.

The Morning Bulletin understands Pacino’s would continue to operate at Empire Rockhampton building on Victoria Parade, and the new art gallery restaurant would be a sister site.

The Italian restaurant has been a pillar and icon of the Rockhampton community for more than 40 years and is staffed by three generations of the Pilcher family.

Pacino’s was originally on the corner of George and Fitzroy streets, where Project Mex was later located.

The restaurant moved to Empire Rockhampton at the end of 2014, expanding its capacity to up to 200 seats.

The new restaurant has a commercial kitchen, service area and indoor air-conditioned dining space opening to the Long Gallery in the museum and outside near Customs House.

The Rockhampton Museum of Art is a three-storey structure with a 4,700 sqm footprint that overlooks the Fitzroy River next to the historic Customs House on Quay Street, and will be connected to East Street via new walkways.

The Rockhampton Museum of Art will be open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Sunday, and it is expected the restaurant’s opening hours will suit this.

The museum is due to open to the public by early 2022 and the restaurant opening date is up to discretion of the successful tenant.