Former Club Dakota site in Ringwood demolished as plans progress for rebuild

The resurrection of popular Ringwood nightspot Club Dakota — which burnt down in 2016 — has locals excited, with a tropical beer garden, a late-night hot dog shop and a 150-capacity function room all planned as part of the three-storey rebuild.

The resurrection of popular Ringwood nightspot Club Dakota — which burnt down in 2016 — has locals excited, with a tropical beer garden, a late-night hot dog shop and a 150-capacity function room all planned as part of the three-storey rebuild.

A demolition at the Maroondah Highway site is already underway, and the $8 million redevelopment is set to begin next month, with construction to start in April.

$8M REBUILD FOR CLUB DAKOTA

CAR ‘SPED OFF’ AS NIGHTCLUB FIRE TOOK HOLD

While the redevelopment is “on schedule”, Project manager Joe Cossari Jr said locals can’t wait to see the venue back up and running.
“I’ve had people from 18 to 80 years of age all saying to me, ‘can you hurry up and build it, because I want to have a drink and a meal in there’,” he said.

Demolition has started at the former Club Dakota site in Ringwood. Picture: Kiel Egging

The new three-level building will feature a renamed nightclub and a late-night hot dog shop, Fat Franks, on the ground level.

A separate tropical beer garden will be on level one, while a 150-capacity venue for weddings and functions, Hyde, will be on the top level.

Hyde will also feature an outdoor courtyard with views of the Ringwood skyline.

An artist’s impression of the new development at the former Club Dakota site.

“Each level has its own identity which is very important,” Mr Cossari Jr said.

“We have three very different clientele from different demographics, and hopefully it will have something to appeal to everybody.”

Mr Cossari Jr said he hoped construction would be completed by October.
“There has been a lot of money spent on engineering and design so we can do it as quickly as possible.”

Mr Cossari Jr said four contractors had been short-listed for the project and he hoped to appoint one soon.

Club Dakota was destroyed in a fire in May 2016, the cause of which is still being investigated.

The nightclub burnt down in 2016. Picture: Steve Tanner