Trucks and tunes: Zarraffa’s boss opens music market near rum distillery

An indoor-outdoor hub modelled on New York’s famous Chelsea Markets – with a food hall, shopping mall and an entertainment precinct – is set to open next to one of the state’s largest rum distilleries and coffee outlets south of Brisbane.

Eleea Navarro at Distillery Road Market in Beenleigh. PHOTO: Richard Walker

An indoor-outdoor market, modelled on New York’s famous Chelsea Markets, is set to open next to one of the state’s largest rum distilleries and coffee outlets south of Brisbane.

Distillery Road Market will be the southeast’s newest dining, market and entertainment destination when it opens in the same precinct as Eagleby’s Zarraffa's headquarters, next to the Beenleigh Artisan Rum Distillery, next month.

To be known as DRM, the markets will have a food hall, shopping mall and an entertainment precinct, in and around a massive reconstructed warehouse, which has kept its gritty feel, complete with graffiti.

Inside the massive warehouse which has been reinvigorated for local produce markets along the style of New York’s Chelsea Markets.

Like their New York counterpart, the markets will also have the backdrop of live music and good coffee, straight out of Zarraffa's roastery, which shares the site.

A highlight will be a Trucks and Tunes event, a collection of food vans scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights.

The growers market will be part of the Bazaar Market, which will run on both Saturday and Sunday from 7am – 1.30pm.

The first of these markets will commence mid-September.

Zarraffa's Coffee chief Kenton Campbell, who came up with the idea, said he wanted DRM to be a merging of local music and markets.

The markets will be run and implemented by Tonken Property Group – another of Mr Campbell’s companies.

Mr Campbell, a well-known entrepreneur and community advocate, put out the call to aspiring musicians, musical acts and local entertainers to apply for a gig.

The new Kiwanda Cafe, one of the restaurants at Eagleby’s Distillery Road precinct.

“The past year hasn’t been easy for the music industry, and we’re thrilled to be supporting local music acts and artists and doing our part to create a home for live music,” he said.

“We’re on a mission to showcase the best of southeast Queensland, whether that be the local artisan, grower or musician, DRM was built to become the home of local talent.

“DRM will provide a platform to cultivate new talent, and for songwriters and bands to perform and develop new audiences.”

Sugar Creek Smokehouse at Distillery Road.

Logan musician Eleea Navarro was one of the first to take up the offer and after a recent stint on The Voice she has been a regular entertainer at Distillery Road.

She has played at Sugarcreek Smokehouse, also at the site, which is already gaining a reputation as an established music venue with bands every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Navarro said she hoped music at the markets would take off and become a “must-do” weekend venue.

Distillery Road Markets: 124 Distillery Rd, Eagleby

Friday, Saturday, 4pm-8pm: Trucks and Tunes

Saturday, 8am-2pm: Winter Bazaarmarkets.

Sunday, 6am-11am: Growers Markets