Beloved CBD venues Bar Americano, Pentolina are closing at the end of the year

A CBD bar and pasta restaurant are closing at the end of the year—and there’s more changes to come with these beloved venues.

A lot can happen in a week, especially in Melbourne’s hospitality scene.

Two beloved CBD venues announced their closure, new operators took over the lease of an East Melbourne wine bar and we saw the end of a Rowville favourite.

The first domino to fall was Entrecote’s Jason M. Jones and designer partner Brem Perera’s ‘dream’ Stamford Park project in Rowville, which they walked away from after four years.

“We restored and loved the old homestead that was Stamford Park. We put everything into it, it was something I had personally wanted to do forever then ... Covid,” Jones wrote on Instagram.

“We said goodbye to that dream. You can’t win them all and we all have to accept that.”

Next Bar Americano was forced to call last drinks after being told to vacate its laneway home of 11 years at the end of the month.

Melbourne pasta palace Pentolina has been forced to close at the end of the year due to a landlord dispute and high rents. Picture: Josie Hayden

Owner Matt Bax told the Herald Sun he has been ‘emotional, exhausted and pretty defeated’ since receiving the news via email.

“We emailed them (the real estate agency) immediately requesting more information and a more reasonable time frame to get in trades ... and they basically said no with no explanation,” he said.

“We have been asking for information on our lease and future of the building since April and the agent gave us no information or warning. We were completely blindsided.”

Initially given one month’s notice, Bax said he’d negotiated an extra month of the lease and will trade daily – and take Sunday bookings – until Bar Americano closes its doors for the last time on December 3.

Meanwhile, pasta palace Pentolina also announced it would close its Little Lonsdale St digs after failing to renegotiate a lease.

Sole owner Julia Picone said rising rent forced her hand to close the business of four years.

“I’m heartbroken, but there comes a time to be sensible. I can’t keep going like this. My business is not a charity,” she said.

Jason M Jones at Stamford Park Homestead. Picture: Hamish Blair

“The cost of living has gone up and (staff) wages have gone up, the cost of goods have gone up – everyone is feeling the cost-of-living pinch and people are spending less.”

Picone and her landlord tried renegotiating the lease, but couldn’t come to an agreement that would suit both parties.

She said the hospitality industry’s ongoing staffing problems hadn’t helped the situation.

“It is so hard to find staff and there is such a small pool now, especially with less overseas visa holders or international students around.”

Lastly, after two and a bit years of trade, East Melbourne’s Hemingway’s Wine Room has welcomed new operators.

Founders Glen Bagnara, Stephan Mauer and Ashleigh Dyer announced they were moving on from the business, with new owners taking over the lease in the next fortnight.

But it’s not all bad...

As some longstanding venues farewell our city’s restaurant scene, other restaurateurs are opening more venues and changing tack.

Stokehouse sibling Pontoon will take on a new life when it reopens this summer.

The St Kilda seaside haunt closed for renovations in September, and will re-emerge with a new look and name, inspired by its former life as Stokehouse Cafe.

While details are scant at the minute, executive chef Jason Staudt and head chef Brendan Anderson will lead the Euro and mod-Australian menu.

Meanwhile Mentone’s NY-style pizzeria Sunnyside Sliced is planning to open a second outpost in Emporium, joining the likes of Grill’d and Hella Good inside the luxe food court.

Owner Ali Ali is hoping to be slinging slices by mid-November.