The evolution of The Western Australian Club’s former premises at 101 St Georges Terrace is continuing, with Guylian Belgian Chocolates to open a cafe in the historic building next month.
Guylian, which was established in Sydney in 2007, will open its first Perth store on May 1, offering a range of pastries, baguettes and waffles as well as chocolates, desserts, tarts and slices.
Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café brand and operations director Patrick Freriks said the Perth shop was part of a planned expansion for the firm.
“We are confident that the city of Perth and wider community will appreciate and welcome the values of the Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café brand,” Mr Freriks said.
New stores are also planned in Doha, Qatar, while Guylian is seeking more franchisees in NSW and Victoria.
Guylian’s cafe follows the announcement late last year that Perth would soon get its first licensed cheese and wine bar, also at 101 St Georges Terrace.
Fromage Artisans will operate the venue, which is expected to open in coming weeks.
Prior to being home to the WA Club, the four-storey building at 101 St Georges Terrace was the original headquarters of the R&I Bank.
Fromage Artisans will use the building’s old gold safe as a cheese vault, allowing cheeses to be aged and matured at the facility.
The WA Club left 101 St Georges Terrace in early 2015, shifting to its current penthouse home at 12 St Georges Terrace.