Urban Purveyor secures landmark St James - Melbourne CBD location

Melbourne, 22 February 2016 – The fast expanding Urban Purveyor Group has confirmed plans for its first Saké Jr. concept in Melbourne after finalising a major lease agreement in the St James precinct at 555 Bourke Street.

The CBRE Melbourne Retail Leasing team of Zelman Ainsworth and Samantha Hunt brokered the deal – one of the largest restaurant leases in the western CBD for the past few years.

The agreement will involve Urban Purveyor opening a three-level, 500sqm Saké Jr. - a fast fine-casual sibling of the Saké brand - within the St James precinct fronting William Street, as the next step in its growth.

The group already operates Melbourne’s Munich Brauhaus in South Wharf, Saké Hamer Hall and will open Saké Flinders Lane this April. It will also open an entertainment destination named “The Alfred” that features The Cut Steakhouse and other restaurants and bars this June in the old Stokehouse location.

The new Saké Jr. at 555 Bourke Street will be a healthy, fast-fine restaurant concept that features create-your-own bowls, buns and rolls along with grab and go versions of Saké’s signature items.

Urban Purveyor Group Chief Executive Officer Thomas Pash said the group was thrilled to be launching its exciting new Saké Jr. concept in the St James precinct.

“It’s a superb location right in the heart of Melbourne’s legal and financial districts and ideally placed to tap into the corporate crowd who want to pick up a quick bite to eat that is healthy, flavoursome and premium quality,” Mr Pash said.

“Outside of great food, this venue will look awesome. Saké Jr. at 555 Bourke Street will have a massive Tokyo-inspired bar, every seat will have an interactive iPad for quick ordering and service, the music will be great and we will have incredible pour-over coffee and WiFi for customers that want a great environment to work and stay fueled-up.”

Saké Jr. is one of a series of planned new restaurants for the group, which operates The Bavarian Bier Cafe, Saké Restaurant & Bar, Ananas Bar & Brassarie, The Cut Bar & Grill chains - along with new brands such as Italian-themed Stella Ristorante & Terrazzo and Tex-Mex-inspired El Camino Cantina.

The expansion plans follow the group’s buyout late last year by private equity group Quadrant, with Urban Purveyor aiming to be the biggest hospitality group in Australia by 2019.

The St James Saké lease is a coup for the Julliard Group, which has been carefully remixing the retail component of St James after completing a major refurbishment program.

“The expected surge in population and expansion of office space in Melbourne’s west end has been a major attraction for retailers and restaurateurs and has generated significant interest in opportunities such as at St James,” Mr Ainsworth said.

Juilliard COO Philippa Kelly stated; “Julliard has a strong focus to activate the retail precinct within St James and we have been very selective in terms of the tenants we have sought and secured – as highlighted by this agreement with Urban Purveyor group.”

CBRE has steered the retail leasing campaign, which has secured high profile tenants such as Herringbone, Cambridge Kit, Doughboys, Simply Spanish, Pok Pok Jnr, Famish'd and Endota Spa.

“This is one of the best examples of a major Melbourne office building where the landlord has invested to really improve the retail amenity, with a view to creating an area with a boutique, village feel,” Mr Ainsworth said.