Umami, Mamak Malaysian and H&M Barbers sign on for Eyre St Market in Kingston

Restaurants, cafes and speciality stores confirm tenancy in Eyre St Market retail and foodie precinct in Kingston, to offer “next-level” supermarket shopping

Umami owner Dean Han with two of their signature dishes.

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Umani is renowned for its signature sushi tacos at Fyshwick Markets but has so far operated on a small scale with a grab-and-go offering.

Now the Japanese eatery is ready to spread its wings with a 60-seat restaurant at Eyre St Market — Kingston’s trendy new retail and food precinct, set to open in April next year.

H&M Barbers, Mamak Malaysian from Fyshwick and Sparkles Car Wash have also committed to a lease in the Market, which is the commercial component of the sold out, 166-apartment Atria development facing Green Square.

Butts N Brew, trading as B&B Emporium which currently has a store in Casey, are also in the final stages of committing while negotiations are continuing with Chewa Massage and Lellow Kids.

A concept image of the planned Eyre St Market and Atria development in Kingston.

Laing + Simmons sales and leasing executive Chris Antos said a well-known Canberra cafe has also committed but they were keeping mum for now.

“Eyre. St Market will be like a very trendy urban shopping centre and we’ve targeted 13 specialty stores rather than big international brands,” Mr Antos said.

“It’s got the beauty of being anchored by a 3459sq m Supabarn while still keeping the authentic and unique character of Kingston.

“The median income in that area is 50 per cent higher than the ACT average so it’s a sophisticated market we’re appealing to and they want good quality offerings.”

The precinct would be a drawcard for those living in Manuka, Griffith, Forest, Narrabundah, Barton and Red Hill who currently have to travel to town centres in Woden or Civic.

A concept image of the planned Eyre St Market and Atria development in Kingston.

Mr Antos said the Supabarn would offer “next-level supermarket shopping” with a focus on organic, vegan and wholefoods, an expansive hot food section, large fresh seafood range, deli and bakery.

He said the pop-up Supabarn on the former IGA site was trading well with about 3000 people coming through the store each week while at least 20,000 are expected to descend on the new store.

As parking increasingly becomes a bugbear in Canberra, 400 car spaces will be provided underneath the 166-apartment Atria development, which had sold out by Christmas.

A retail square will be landscaped with street furniture and green spaces with the potential for a playground area.

Tenancies in Eyre St. Market are still available.

Umami owner Dean Han said there were already plenty of Japanese restaurants on the north side in areas like Civic and Gunghalin.

“Japanese food has always been popular in Canberra but there’s not enough on the south side so that’s why I chose Kingston,” Mr Han said.

Umami owner Dean Han with their signature sushi taco and poke bowl.

Breakfast and lunch would be a casual, funky cafe-style affair while dinner would allow people to settle in for the evening with food pairings with sake to be sourced from all over Japan.

“Here at Fyshwick Markets we have quick, takeaway food but in Kingston people will be able to take their time and have meetings and talk,” he said.

The Tokyo-style menu will centre on ramen, udon, curries and Japanese fusion dishes.

Included on the expanded menu will be their signature sushi tacos — sushi rice, pickles, prawn tempura and avocado drizzled in chilli mayo in a sandwich of tempura fried nori.

Also their popular poke bowls with gorgeously fresh salmon sashimi, organic quinoa, seaweed salad, heirloom tomatoes, avocado, pickles and yuzu dressing.

Also look forward to soy sauce aged in a barrel for two years to achieve a more savoury flavour, which encompasses the meaning behind the restaurant’s moniker.

There will be a focus on Australian wines including Eden Valley and Mount Majura as well as Japanese beers.

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