Baskin Robbins to move into former KFC site on The Corso, Manly
The former KFC outlet lasted less than three years after the company announced it was coming to Manly. Now a new tenant has been found for the site.
Manly
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A huge US dessert franchise is moving into the former KFC fast food outlet in Manly, which has been vacant for nearly three years.
Baskin Robbins, which sells ice-creams and other frozen desserts, is moving into the prominent corner space at the end of The Corso, opposite Manly Wharf.
The empty building which is one of the first buildings tourists coming off the ferry see,
has been an eyesore since KFC shut up shop in 2018.
Logan Grisaffe, from Ray White, said he was delighted to have completed the deal and filled the space which has been empty for so long.
“This is a high quality international retailer,” he said.
“To have a corner spot like this is phenomenal for their exposure and sales.”
He said the company had been looking to get into Manly for sometime but had not been able to find a deal that suited them, until now.
Mr Grisaffe conceded that the property had been hard to fill as it was a small, heritage protected site and the lease was a lot of money.
He said an ice-cream shop which was a “grab and go” operation was perfect, although there would also be a few seats for customers who wanted to eat in too.
He said Baskin Robbins was due to start a fit out in the next few weeks and hoped to open before Christmas.
It will remain to be seen how the arrival of a world-renowned ice-cream brand will impact other ice-cream shops in the CBD, especially as it will be in a great position to snag tourist traffic coming off the ferry.
It comes as trendy ice-creamery Anita Gelato is also about to open further along The Corso, as well as a new frozen yoghurt shop, which is opening in the former Yoghurtland space.
Other ice-cream vendors nearby include Corso Ice Cremerie, another US franchise Ben & Jerry’s, Copenhagen and Gelatissimo, which is on the wharf.
Baskin Robbins will hopefully get a better reception to news of its arrival than KFC, which was not welcomed by locals.
The company had trouble with its fit-out, which delayed opening.
It closed within three years of announcing it was coming.
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