THE $6 million restoration program of William Street in Northbridge, which is approaching completion, has attracted some of Perth’s most notable hospitality operators including restaurateur and Little World Beverages director Nic Trimboli.
THE $6 million restoration program of William Street in Northbridge, which is approaching completion, has attracted some of Perth’s most notable hospitality operators including restaurateur and Little World Beverages director Nic Trimboli.
The upgrades to the eastern side of William Street, currently being undertaken by the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, form part of the state government’s $11 million commitment to revitalising the Perth Cultural Centre and, although still under construction, the area has already undergone a significant transformation.
None more so than the historic building located at the corner of William Street and James Street (diagonally opposite The Brass Monkey) where Mr Trimboli plans to open his next yet-to-be-named hospitality venture.
Even Planning Minister John Day was curious about the name of the new establishment from the man behind popular eateries including Balthazar in the city, Duende in Leederville and Il Lido Italian Canteen in Cottesloe.
But EPRA chief executive Tony Morgan had to inform Mr Day that “the name will be released in due course”.
“We’ve themed the street being based on food and retail and we’ve explored the Perth marketplace and found unique operators to come in and do that; Mr Trimboli is one [of them],” Mr Morgan told WA Business News.
“He’s very special and the state theatre just down the street will be very special; these two things will act as destinations for attraction.”
Mr Trimboli said he and his partners believed Northbridge was undergoing a renaissance that they wanted to be a part of.
“There’s a synergy between the commercial and creative tenants on William Street that is exciting and dynamic. I hope our restaurant will fit right in and bring a diversity of people back to experience Northbridge,” Mr Trimboli said.
Mr Day was pleased that William Street will host some of the most exciting places to eat in Perth, including returning historic tenants like the Hare Krishna restaurant plus Mr Trimboli’s eatery and Hamish Fleming’s next Flipside Burger Bar a few doors north with another Mrs Brown small bar upstairs (pending liquor licensing approval).
All of which, according to Mr Morgan, will pay reduced rents for the first two years of tenancy.
“We wish to achieve full commercial (rates) in three years time so year one and two those rents are discounted to allow those businesses to establish and reach full rent in three years time,” Mr Morgan said.
"We received a positive response from the market and we are achieving competitive rates when compared with other inner city retail precincts.
“There’s also some creative arts groups that will be placed and those rents are certainly subsidised by the state through EPRA to let people like WAMI and the Writer’s Guild and Gotham to operate in those studios.”
Mr Day said the area’s improved security and EPRA’s upgrading to the buildings plus the opening of the state theatre centre early next year and the $600 million Perth City Link project were vital to transforming the area.
