Essie Wine Bar takes Malvern lease
Essie Wine Bar has taken a lease in a two-level Victorian heritage building in Malvern.
The lease of 35 Station Street, opposite Malvern station, is for the next four years, with Essie paying around $61,000 per annum.
The 170 sqm building on 245 sqm was previously owner occupied as a medical business and Josh Cohen School of Music.
Essie is the creation of Tasmanian-born Angus Brettingham-Moore, who has been involved with the team behind renowned local staples Toorak Cellars in Armadale and Milton Wine Shop on Malvern Road.
He's also lent his hand to The Alps in Prahran and The Hills in Surrey Hills.
Fitzroys Associate Director, Chris James negotiated the lease.
He said the property’s positioning on Station Street gave the venue more control in creating an ambience conducive to the warm and inviting nature synonymous with Melbourne’s growing contingent of wine bars, while also benefiting from its accessibility and position on the pedestrian trail between Malvern train station and the busy Glenferrie Road shopping strip.
“Neighbourhood wine bars are a growing feature of Melbourne’s inner suburbs,” James said.
“A growing foodie and wine culture appreciation is spreading out from the city and is creating demand for new nightlife offerings.
Consistent with sister venues, Essie will offer a wide selection of old and new world wines, with an emphasis on those that capture the seasonal and environmental elements of their origins, as well as a warm aesthetic featuring low lighting and pine floors.
“There has been a growing appetite across Melbourne for the option of a for more considered and refined ambience and experiential wine offering closer to home, that people can easily go out to any night of the week.
"Affluent inner south-eastern suburbs have a catchment ready-made for this type of venue, offering extensive, high-end wine lists with labels from across the world, while the bars also attract a strong clientele of those aged in their 20s and young professionals.”
