West End Archives - Page 17 of 25

Harris Farm Markets Officially Opens in West End

The wait is finally over! More than six months after Harris Farm Markets announced it’s coming to West End, the doors of the family-owned enterprise will finally swing open and welcome shoppers at its Brisbane flagship store.

On Friday, 4 June 2021, Harris Farm Markets at the West Village on Boundary Street will begin trading over 500 lines of fruit and vegetables, 500 kinds of cheese, four kinds of Pour Your Own Honey, three direct pour milk variants, and 150 plant-based and vegan products from the popular Imperfect Picks brand.

The new supermarket takes up 1,800 square metres of warehouse space on the ground floor of the historic Peters Ice Cream and it will be a “flavour-filled showcase” of local products from Queensland and Australia.

The West End shop will serve as the headquarters, where the priority is to showcase local concession partnerships between the store and producers. After all, Queensland is known for its range of quality-grown vegetables and fruits, especially strawberries and mangoes.

Expectedly, the West End supermarket will have a large section of organic produce that will cater to the popular dietary needs of the locals. The store will also have a gourmet section for boutique products, extensive deli choices, a range of freshly-baked bread, and choices of premium meat.

Harris Farm Markets has been in operation across Australia for more than 40 years, with more than 25 stores. Its other Brisbane shop is in Clayfield, which opened in late 2020. The site once belonged to the Harris family 30 years ago, before it became Clayfield Markets, owned by Carlo and Susan Lorenti. The Lorentis are now the managers of Harris Farm Market Clayfield.

A Look Inside the New Eco-Friendly Woolworths Store in West End

From trolleys made from recycled milk bottles to LED lights that brighten the store, the new eco-friendly Woolworths outlet in West End promises to operate with a reduced carbon footprint.

Opened in mid-May 2021, the West Village supermarket has been tipped to bring a new shopping experience for locals of this suburb, who are known to embrace the tree hugger lifestyle. For instance, at this Woolworths, they can enjoy freshly made banana bread baked using ingredients from the store’s food wastage (unsold overripe bananas) every day.

The store will be operating at 15 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to any other Queensland location. The site has provided 130 bicycle slots for customers and workers, whilst there are changing stations for customers driving electric cars.

The Woolworths West Village outlet has also partnered with local farmers to supply customers with 100 percent Australian grown produce and meat. The butcher section, sourced from local suppliers as well, allows customers to order a specific cut whilst they wait.

Shoppers could also drop off their recyclables like soft plastics and coffee pods at this store, as well as their old mobile phones or used batteries.

However, it remains to be seen if residents from West End and the nearby inner-city suburbs will patronise this green store as various protests marred the supermarket’s development. There were campaigns against its construction as the store was big but had little green spaces and it looked out of character.

Enjoy a Quiet Breakfast at Red Bowler West End

Photo credit:Facebook/Red Bowler Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar

Eager to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and unwind at a vintage coffee lounge and bar? Red Bowler in West End offers a moment of reprieve coupled with breakfast meals and delicious beverages.

Red Bowler, a coffee lounge and wine bar located along West End’s Duncan St, offers its customers a curated selection of teas with options such as English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint, and Lemongrass and Ginger — all priced at $4.60. Kombucha, sparkling water, and fruit juice is also available for order.

Available in their coffee menu are classic brews such as cappuccinos, espressos, chai lattes, mochaccinos, and many others. Customers can also indulge themselves with some chocolate, iced or hot, as well as iced lattes and long blacks.

Last but not least, Red Bowler offers a variety of wines and beers which are complemented by the restaurant’s rustic ambience. With a mix of retro and antique furniture dimly lit by lamplight, the lounge serves as an excellent retreat from the bright and busy atmosphere outside its walls.

All of these beverages can be partnered with an assortment of snacks. Roasted nuts, marinated olives, fresh bread and butter, as well as dip are all available to order to complement drinks. Meals good for two are also sold exclusively on weekends.

Their breakfast plate, dubbed Day Break, is only available on Saturdays and Sundays. The dish consists of avocado mash, preserved lemon, smoked butter and lemon oil with artichoke, tomatoes and capsicum relish topped off by a choice of either salmon or ham, two small bowls of yoghurt, and a freshly toasted sourdough bagel.

Photo credit: Facebook/Red Bowler Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar

Reviewers raved over the lounge’s ambience in particular, commenting that it was “chilled”, “fabulous”, or simply “beautiful. The coffee also comes highly recommended, and customers have lauded Red Bowler for its excellent service as well.

Red Bowler Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar can be found at 15 Duncan St, West End, open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends. For more information, and for the latest updates concerning the cafe, follow their Facebook page.

Popular Anita Gelato Opens First Queensland Store in West End

Anita Gelato, the famous gelateria founded by a mother and son team from Israel, will be serving up the sweetest and creamiest scoops for the very first time in Queensland once its West End outlet opens.

Known for its over-the-top flavours and Instagram-worthy servings, Anita Gelato always has customers lining up at its stores in Barcelona, New York, Tel-Aviv and Sydney. In the middle of June 2021, Brisbane locals will finally get to taste why this gelato has a cult-like following around the world.

Owner Adi Avital is proud that their first Queensland store at Peters Ice Cream Factory will “carry the mantle” for the historic Australian ice cream brand. Right from the start, the Avitals knew that they found their home in Brisbane when they saw their Boundary location. Peters Ice Cream Factory stopped churning ice cream at their West End factory over 25 years ago.

Anita Gelato offers 150 flavours of tasty, cold delights like gelato, frozen-yoghurt, sorbet and other icy treats, including sugar-free varieties. Every sweet treat at this ice cream store is handmade using 100 percent natural ingredients. The syrups and jams are prepared straight from the kitchen of Mama Anita, the family matriarch.

Nearly 20 years ago, the Avitals opened their small-scale ice cream shop in Tel Aviv to feed their neighbours and friends. Then Adi’s son, Nir, started developing ice cream using Mama Anita’s jams for the flavour boost, which became a hit. This ushered their expansion in other parts of the world but to this day, the jams, syrups and chocolate toppings are still made fresh in their home kitchen under Anita’s supervision.

The exact date for the opening of Anita Gelato in West End has not yet been announced. Follow their Facebook page for updates.

New Twists on Classic Italian Dishes at Mario’s West End

Mario’s, one of the hottest Italian aperitivo bars and restaurants in West End, offers Brisbane a range of exciting dishes with unique twists — each complemented by a curated selection of wines and liqueurs.

Founded by veteran chef Raffaele Persichetti, the Italian aperitivo bar and restaurant offers West End interesting takes on classic dishes such as lobster lasagna, funghi calzone fritto, and scampi crudo with buffalo milk stracciatella and raspberry dust.

The restaurant can be found at the site of chef Raffaele’s old Italian restaurant, Luigi’s, which he closed down in 2020 to pursue new and innovative concepts. The product of his experimentation is the all-new Mario’s, which opened in 2020.

Prior to opening his new Italian restaurant, chef Raffaele also opened a Mexican joint in West End called “Mama Taco”, which is still bustling with orders to this day.

Given the restaurant’s ever-changing selection of dishes, degustation menus are available that come complete with matching wines, however those who wish to order à la carte are free to do so as well.

Mario’s is more than just a restaurant, however. An aperitivo bar first and foremost, their selection of alcoholic beverages offers numerous wines and liqueurs that have been curated to match the meals available in their menus.

Reviewers raved over the restaurant’s selection of alcohol, pleased with the cocktails and the wine choices in particular. The service has been described as “faultless” and “crazy good”, and the restaurant’s menu has been commended by many customers — with standout dishes such as their five-cheese gorgonzola and the venison crepe.

Mario’s Brisbane can be found at 67/69 Hardgrave Rd, West End, open Thursday to Sunday from 5:00 p.m. until late. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements concerning the restaurant.

Year-long Construction at Infamous West End Intersection Overstays Its Welcome

Construction for a $10.4 million upgrade to a prominent West End intersection has been ongoing for over 12 months, and residents are beginning to get frustrated as they have been forced to navigate around the worksite for over a year now.

The development, which costs a total of $10.4 million, was first approved three years ago and it revolves around the implementation of new upgrades to make one particularly dangerous intersection in West End safer. Such improvements include much-needed lights.

People within the vicinity have grown increasingly frustrated over what should have been temporary inconveniences that have now resulted in a worksite that has begun to overstay its welcome. Businesses nearby are suffering as entering stores or finding parking becomes inconvenient for would-be customers.

Installing lights has been particularly difficult due to the complications brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that took place as a result. This, on top of wet weather towards the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, has had unfavourable impacts on the project’s delivery.

Noise pollution brought about by the sounds of construction has also deterred customers from making use of nearby cafes and restaurants, much to the chagrin of local business owners.

Construction at the intersection, which is located at the corner of Montague Road and Victoria Street, has been in the works for 12 months now. These upgrades were scheduled to be finished by March 2021, however it is estimated that construction will finish closer to June.

Archive Beer Boutique: West End Craft Beer Pioneer Up For Sale

The head lease of Archive Beer Boutique, a pioneer in the craft beer market in Brisbane, has been put up for sale. Aushotel Group has appointed CBRE to steer the deal of this landmark West End pub.

This is an opportunity for a new operator to make a mark in the ever-evolving craft beer market for the long term. The sale comes with a full, commercial late-trading liquor licence and the chance to build three bottle shops within 10 kilometres of the site.

Archive Beer Boutique is on Boundary Street and has thrived in this premier location for more than a decade. CBRE’s Paul Fraser said that the pub’s location, size and scale, and long tenure could easily generate interest from investors. The pub sits opposite West Village, which is undergoing urban renewal.

Photo Credit: Ezi Digital Australia/Google Maps

The pub also enjoys a loyal following, even amidst a global crisis, and the hospitality industry has to adjust and adapt to the new normal. Fraser said that the vendor of the property has been looking to enjoy semi-retirement and offload his assets as the hospitality sector bounces back from COVID-19.

Aushotel Group’s managing director, Jim Davies, said that Archive continues to be a “volume driver for many craft brands” even as different craft brews have been setting shop in Brisbane.

Archive Beer Boutique spans 1,419 square metres and was recently renovated with a main restaurant on the ground floor and a Loft Bar for functions and evens on the second floor.

Harris Farm Markets to Open West End Flagship at Peters Ice Cream Factory

Harris Farm Markets, the popular family-owned enterprise operating for more than 40 years, is set to open its West End flagship store at the former Peters Ice Cream Factory with heaps of job vacancies for over 150 workers.

To prepare for the opening, the management has announced the hiring of temporary, permanent and part-time workers who could fill in roles like customer service staff, bakers, butchers, dairy experts, deli and cheese specialists, fruiterers and florists, as well as backend employees who will be streamlining the operations.

Interested locals who would like to grow with the Harris Farm Markets family may apply online. Co-CEO Luke Harris said that they are keen on giving jobs to “passionate, hard-working food enthusiasts,” who will immediately be entitled to staff discounts at the store.

“Authenticity is everything to us, in the way we buy and present our produce through to the people we employ,” Mr Harris said.

Mr Harris is also happy to reveal that the West End flagship store will be based at the former building of the historic Peters Ice Cream Factory, which was built and established long before the development of refrigeration technology.

Once a thriving hub for innovation, Peters Ice Cream Factory employed food technologists who developed many of the brand’s iconic ice cream flavours using the crudest of technology to lower the water temperature that would keep the ice cream frozen.

The West End factory shut down in 1995 and the building is now part of the $800 million development of West Village.

“The space is nothing short of extraordinary and will allow us to build the flagship Queensland Harris Farm Markets, with great local fruit, veg and gourmet grocery, as well as some local concession partnerships we’re really excited about,” the CEO said. “Opening in West Village, one of the most exciting urban developments we have ever seen, is a fantastic opportunity, particularly given the history of fresh fruit and veg markets in the area.”

West End’s Harris Farm Markets is the second store in Brisbane. The company opened an outlet in Clayfield in November 2020. Incidentally, the Clayfield site on Sandgate Road was the original site of Harris Farm Markets 30 years ago, before Carlo and Susan Lorenti took over.

“We were incredibly excited to open at this site because Harris Farm used to own it 30 years ago before selling it to Carlo and Susan. It’s a full-circle story and we are thrilled that Carlo and Susan have stayed on as our managers, along with as many staff as possible,” Mr Harris said.

Best Served Loud : The Bearded Lady Celebrates Young Henrys’ Brisbane Debut

Young Henrys’ Brisbane debut, Best Served Loud, a free event of wild and raucous live music and dancing, will be held at The Bearded Lady in West End on the 16th and 30th of April 2021.

The Bearded Lady, or ‘The Beardo’, is set to become the venue of Best Served Loud — an event hosted by Young Henrys’ to commemorate its debut in West End, Brisbane. Throughout the night, attendants can expect hours of music and dancing, drinking nothing but Young Henrys’ amazing brews.

On the 16th of April, people can expect a lineup of live music from local bands such as Seaside, which will head the event with supports from Full Flower Moon Band, CNT EVN, and Guppy.

The roster switches up on the event’s second run which will be held on the 30th of April, with a lineup headed by VOIID alongside Fangz, with supports from WALKEN, Jollee, JUNE, Sammm., Loiter, and Sunbleached.

Due to the restrictions brought about by COVID-19, space for the event will be limited, closely following a first-come, first-served basis. Entry will be free, with doors open from 8pm till late on both nights.

For more information, check out the Best Served Loud event page. Visit The Bearded Lady’s website for a sneak peek at their food and beverage menus, and follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on deals, dates, and other special announcements concerning the event.

Residents Plan Action Against Controversial West End Development

Residents are rallying together to take an active stance against a West End development that will impact Montague Road and the green spaces in Davies Park.

Henroth Investments and Manly Properties submitted a revision to its development application (DA A005608649) detailing changes in the height of the residential towers and the site cover, or the areas with buildings and structures, on 281-297 Montague Road.

The details of the changes are as follows:

OLD Development Proposal	NEW Development Proposal
two 12-storey buildings three six-storey buildings food and drink outlets 602 car parks Site Cover: 56 percent	two 26-storey towers 741 car parks 730 bike spaces food and drink outlets Site Cover: 38 percent

The current tallest building height in West End is 16 storeys, prompting the residents to lodge their opposition to the proposal.

“It’s proposed height will also set a precedence on Montague Rd, with future developers likely to point to it as a reason to raise current building height restrictions on Montague,” one unnamed resident wrote to Council. “This will have a real impact on unit prices in streets parallel to Montague, not to mention destroy the inner city village feel that attracts people here in the first place.”

Residents also said that the height of this development will encroach on Davies Park, where community and sports activities are usually underway, especially on weekends. However, the developer said that they will provide 0.4 hectares of green space if they will be allowed to increase the building’s height.

Photo Credit: Amy MacMahon-Greens MP for South Brisbane/Facebook

“To put this into context, the BCC City Plan says that for every 1,000 residents, there should be at least 1.4 hectares of public green space in the local area. 0.4 hectares isn’t even enough green space for the residents who will live in these new buildings. It won’t do anything to address the existing shortage of green space in the Kurilpa Peninsula,” Greens MP for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon shared on Facebook. “I really don’t think we should have to choose between more traffic congestion and more crowded schools, or no new public parkland.”

The community has been meeting regularly to discuss actions to ensure that this West End development application will not be approved. They also agreed to come up with options that will prevent future developments from going the same route.