Dakota nightclub: Builders to finally begin work on new Ringwood entertainment complex for 2018-19 summer opening
MORE than two years after fire destroyed one of the most popular nightclubs in Melbourne’s east, work is finally set to begin on rebuilding Ringwood’s Club Dakota.
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THE reborn and renamed Dakota nightclub in Ringwood will open just in time for summer.
And the same builder who rebuilt St Kilda’s Stokehouse after it was destroyed by fire will help ‘Dirty Dakkas’ rise from the ashes.
Construction is set to finally begin on the $8-million, multi-level redevelopment of the burnt out club site on Maroondah Hwy early next month.
CLUB DAKOTA, RINGWOOD, TO UNDERGO $8-MILLION REBUILD
FORMER CLUB DAKOTA SITE IN RINGWOOD DEMOLISHED AS PLANS PROGRESS FOR REBUILD
DAKOTA NIGHTCLUB BLAZE RINGWOOD: FIRE DESTROYS EASTERN SUBURBS CLUB
Project Manager Joe Cossari Jr told Maroondah Leader earlier this year construction would begin in April, but so far only demolition works to clear the site have been completed.
He said the project had been delayed due to a longer-than-expected process to secure the necessary building permits.
Lanskey Constructions, who resurrected St Kilda’s Stokehouse restaurant, has been appointed as builder after interest from developers throughout Australia.
Mr Cossari said the appointment “said a lot” about what the new complex would be like.
“They understand what’s happened because of the fire, they’ve got a good handle of it and it’s a perfect fit,” he said.
Mr Cossari Jr said he expected construction to be completed by December.
He said the new complex would open in stages, beginning with the rebuilt, yet-to-be-named nightclub and the Fat Franks hot dog shop on the ground level by the end of the year.
A Bali beach-themed beer garden and restaurant, The Bungalow, is set for level one and will serve everything from acai bowls and craft beer jugs to bottomless champagne brunches.
The Hyde function centre, which will have two rooms with private courtyards and cater for weddings and functions for about 100 people will be on level two.
Mr Cossari Jr said The Bungalow and Hyde would open at roughly the same time in early 2019.
“The need for something like this in the area is just paramount,” he said.
“You’re going to have a venue in one location for everybody, it’s a one-stop shop for the area.”
Meanwhile, Police are unlikely to continue their investigation into the fire which destroyed Club Dakota in May 2016.
Maroondah detective Sargeant Paul Holland said officers previously arrested and interviewed a 29-year-old Kilsyth man and a 30-year-old Seville man over the blaze, but they were both released without charge.
He said it was unlikely detectives would progress the investigation “without further assistance or intelligence provided by the public”.
Det Sgt Holland said anyone with information could call Maroondah detectives on 9871 3000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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