Melbourne cafes: Prahran’s St Edmonds Cafe could have closed for good

A favourite Greville St cafe could be closed forever with fears Melbourne’s third lockdown was the final nail in its coffin.

St Edmond's Cafe's Instagram post advising of its closure, which has since been deleted. Picture: Supplied.

A popular inner city cafe may not return after Melbourne’s third lockdown – with fears it has closed for good after 10 years of backstreet brews.

Prahran’s St Edmond’s, on Greville St, declared it was “no longer open for service” in a post on its Instagram page on Sunday, February 14.

The post – which has since been deleted – encouraged diners to visit Chatham St’s Head Honcho to get their coffee fix.

“A huge thanks to all you lovely people for supporting us over the years,” the cafe wrote.

“We will miss you all soooo much!”

St Edmond’s opened in a former garage in 2011 and was loved for its industrial feel, with

all-day breakfast and lunch favourites including burgers and Korean Fried Chicken on its menu.

Leader’s calls to the venue went to voicemail.

St Edmond’s closure comes after another failed restart for popular corner pub Lucky Coq, on the corner of nearby Chapel and High streets.

The cult favourite reopened on Thursday, February 11, only to be forced to close a day later due to the five-day lockdown.

It had been closed since early December due to staff shortages and had relaunched with a menu including parmas, hot dogs, and salads.

The venue’s famous $4 pizzas, one of Melbourne’s longest running cheap eats, was scrapped from the menu.

Lucky Coq’s owners took to its Facebook page, saying: “See you all for a boogie after lockdown is lifted”.

It’s not the only longstanding Melbourne party spot to be revived, with The Hawthorn Hotel to re-open in late April or early May.

The pub, which closed for good in September, will undergo a $1 million renovation and boast a new sports bar, outdoor area and a refreshed menu.

Owners Swinburne University will operate the upper level and turn it into an events and co-working space, exclusive to students, staff, alumni and its business partners.

Australian Venue Co Victorian manager Ben Anderson said the pub would have a “spruced-up” dancefloor and new lighting and sound systems.

“When we handed the keys back (in September), the community outpouring of shock made us all realise its such a big part of the uni students lives,

“So we decided, let’s make it work, we’ve teamed up with Swinburne and here we are now.”

The university’s deputy vice chancellor, Dr Andrew Smith, said it was planning “unique engagement experiences with those that are close to the university” in its new space.

“We look forward to seeing the ground level turned into the beautiful pub it once was, as well as transforming the first level,” he said.

“We are sure The Hawthorn Hotel will become a hub for both the Swinburne and surrounding local communities”.