Boutique pub plan for Franco Cozzo store in Footscray refused

Melburnians won’t get the chance to knock back beers inside the Franco Cozzo furniture store, with plans to convert the building into a boutique brewery refused by council.

Franco Cozzo became a multicultural icon of Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Plans to convert the Franco Cozzo furniture store in Footscray into a boutique pub have been refused.

Maribyrnong Council said the application by Moon Dog Craft Brewery was unsuitable because of safety concerns with the location being so close to busy Hopkins St.

The council also said the sale and consumption of alcohol would have an “unacceptable” impact on the neighbourhood, and that the proposed trading hours would affect the area negatively.

The plan, submitted in December, said the venue on Hopkins St would have a 900-patron capacity and live music would be played in indoor and outdoor areas.

A render of Moon Dog’s plans for the Franco Cozzo building in Footscray.

The Moon Dog Brewing application proposed turning the 1960s building into a pub and dining venue featuring live music.

The $900,000 plan proposed keeping the distinctive Franco Cozzo sign and the two-storey structure but adding a ground-floor fountain, playground and rooftop bar. The mural of Cozzo was to be retained under the plan.

The plans aimed to retain the Franco Cozzo sign on the building in Footscray.

Maribyrnong council chief executive Celia Haddock said safety concerns were the primary reason for the application being refused.

“As the existing building is built to the boundary/footpath line, with approximately 2.5m between the building and the edge of Hopkins St – an arterial road that carries significant volumes of traffic,’’ Ms Haddock said.

“The narrow width of the footpath coupled with the high volume of traffic, presented an unacceptable safety risk for future patrons.

“This was highlighted in an independent Road Safety Audit, commissioned by Moon Dog, with the audit finding a number of risks which could not be mitigated.’’

Moon Dog has 60 days to appeal the decision.

Moon Dog has two venues – its original Abbotsford brewery and Moon Dog World in Preston.

said safety concerns were the primary reason for the application being refused.

“As the existing building is built to the boundary/footpath line, with approximately 2.5m between the building and the edge of Hopkins St – an arterial road that carries significant volumes of traffic.

“The narrow width of the footpath coupled with the high volume of traffic, presented an unacceptable safety risk for future patrons.

Mr Cozzo’s baroque furniture offerings and his homemade TV advertising, with cries of “megalo” and “grand sale”, made him a household name.

A biopic of the Sicilian immigrant’s rags-to-riches story premiered at the Italian Film Festival last year.