Nearly two dozen fresh food artisans will ply their trade in Melbourne’s city centre from September 19, when the long-awaited Il Mercato Centrale project opens its doors to the public.
Originally slated to open in late 2022, the Italian dining and events development, built inside the four-storey art deco McPherson building on 546 Collins St, has remained a source of curiosity for diners and passers-by alike.
Welcoming the press into the construction site for the first time in more than two years, hospitality entrepreneur Eddie Muto and general manager Gary Pattikis on Monday explained what’s been happening behind the scenes — and what visitors and vendors can expect.
Far from the hollowed-out shell displayed to the press in May 2022, the 3,500 square metre development now occupies three storeys, with kitchens, dining areas, and special event spaces nearing the final stages of construction.
Restaurants, pasticcerias, salumi vendors, and two different types of pizzerias are set to fill the space, with cold rooms, specialty meat cabinets, and traditional ovens already installed.
All told, some 900 pieces of equipment have been, or will be, installed across the complex, a measure Muto and Pattikis say will ensure the in-house artisans can provide an authentic experience to visitors.
Forming the bones of the structure, and the engineering challenges associated with elevating a historic building into a lively marketplace, contributed to the project’s delays.
One of the city’s oldest childcare centres occupies the story immediately above the Il Mercato Centrale development, Muto said, meaning builders have had to navigate tight noise restrictions.
While much of the complex is floored with specially-rolled steel panels — what Muto claims are a first in Australia for a development of this kind — the upper storey, a function room and events space, has been acoustically insulated to stop noise creeping through the floor.
Challenges with upgrading the building’s emergency sprinkler system, and ensuring gas connectivity kitchens reliant on old-school cooking techniques, further stretched the timeline.
The build has been more complex compared to a greenfields development as the building’s art deco facade, one of only a handful remaining in the Melbourne CBD, cannot be drastically altered to speed up construction.
With the opening date just six weeks away, key elements are still in development: the staircase structure connecting the levels is yet to be installed, as is a DJ booth, capable of pumping tunes throughout the complex.
Vendors will occupy the premises under an independent licensee model, where Il Mercato Centrale provides the equipment, accounting software, POS integration, and access to produce, in exchange for a cut of that vendor’s turnover.
Muto and Pattikis say the business relationship will be symbiotic between Il Mercato Centrale and the artisans within, as the broader venture will not prosper unless the cafes, restaurants, and bars within do first.
Il Mercato Centrale is yet to unveil the line-up of artisans to fill out its ambitious new space; vendors themselves will only find out who they are trading next to in the days leading to its opening.
However, Muto said opportunities to trade have been fully booked for at least a year.
Regarding the delayed opening timeframe — which took place during a particularly tough economic climate for hospitality and food service providers — Muto said Il Mercato Centrale has held close, individual communications with its vendors throughout the process.
Il Mercato Centrale, the first outpost of its kind established outside of Italy itself, will open to the public from 4pm on September 19.
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Senior Business Journalist
Focused on the small business sector, David’s work covers the political, regulatory, and economic issues facing Australian entrepreneurs. Prior to joining SmartCompany, he was a reporter for Business Insider Australia. You can follow him on LinkedIn.
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