Varsity secures Innaloo Sizzler site

Varsity Group has confirmed it will open its seventh venue at the former Sizzler restaurant in Innaloo, since the US chain closed its Australian restaurants in 2020.

The Western Australian hospitality group is planning to build a sports bar at the 750 square metre site, supporting anchor tenant Event Cinemas.

The group opened its first bar in Nedlands in 2013, and has since launched bars in Northbridge, Nedlands, Morley, Joondalup, Waterford and most recently Fremantle.

Varsity Group co-founder Ben Maher said the group invested in a property team to help identify the most strategic locations to grow its business.

“It’s this fiscal discipline that has allowed us exponential growth while following a formula proven to work for the Varsity brand,” he said.

“Innaloo will be a flagship location for Varsity and one that has involved significant investment to secure.”

The hospitality group has grown from a university bar concept in Nedlands to a series of sports bars with 300 staff.

It has continued to expand during COVID-19, opening its latest venue in Fremantle late last year.

The Innaloo bar is scheduled to open in mid-2022.