Up-market food hall proposed for Collins St, Hobart at former Country Road shop

A CBD site which recently sold for $3.7M could be turned into a stylish food hall showcasing Tasmanian produce, with high-end vendors and a liquor licence. SEE THE PLANS >>

• The Friends’ School new gym plus Grinners Dive Bar extension to operating hours applications up for approval at HCC
• Rocherlea property was offered prison development: Govt ‘should have reconsidered the options’

A HOBART building which housed an up-market national retail brand until recently could be transformed into a food hall showcasing Tasmanian produce.

A development application has been submitted to the Hobart City Council for partial demolition, alterations, signage and partial change of use to food services at 119 Collins St.

The building was previously occupied by Country Road for almost 30 years and was sold for $3.7 million in November 2018.

An up-market food hall has been proposed for the former site of Country Road in Hobart. Picture: SUPPLIED

Country Road has since moved into the redeveloped Myer store.

The proposed food hall development has been put forward by New Town-based Tom Yan Pty Ltd and designed by Mind Architects.

Devine Property managing director Mark Devine said the food hall concept came after a brainstorming session.

“Without another retailer capable of filling the shoes of Country Road, that caused a rethink about what options might work,” he said.

“It’s quite a large site for a shop so there’s not many business that can use that type of space. The food hall concept flowed from that.”

New development plans for the old Country Road building in Collins St, Hobart. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Devine said there was a subtle distinction between a food court and a food hall.

“The market for a food court is usually a sit and grab place or takeaway in a shopping centre context with kiosks,’ he said.

“This concept is taking a bit of a departure from this – while some aspects of it will be takeaway, the focus is as a demonstration of the food product.

“It will be a little bit more up-market – a licensed venue trading into the evenings as well as the day. Ideally, it would be presenting quite well known Tasmanian produce at the different stalls.

“We’ll be targeting well known Tasmanian foodies to hopefully be part of the concept.”

Mr Devine said the target market for the food hall would include city workers, those on a night out and hotel guests.

“We feel with the appropriate operators and marketing this would become a very desirable destination for guests looking for something that’s convenient to where they’re staying that’s not within the hotel itself,” he said.

“Planning has been done with the view that the [coronavirus] crisis will hopefully pass and by the time this project is ready to be occupied, we’ll be looking well into next year.”

Public comment on the application closes on September 28.