The search for a new restaurant hotspot is over for Brisbane hospitality industry veterans Mark and Narelle Tognini, following a lease negotiated by Colliers International.
Kyle Rae (pictured) negotiated the Rosalie lease of the Italian ‘Il Locale’, which will occupy 153 square-metres of internal space and 25 square-metres of outdoor space at 21 Nash Street, where Tomato Brothers was previously located.
Rae has negotiated deals for the Nash Street complex before, including Grill’d and BWS.
“We were specifically looking for a food operator that wasn’t already there, and Italian seemed to be one of the only options – either that or a steak house-type operator,” says Rae.
“We approached the Tognini’s to gauge their interest in tenanting the property, knowing their business would complement the rest of the operators in the complex.”
Rae says the deal is a sign of the times, as the food and beverage sector holds up in the retail market.
“It all has to do with non-discretionary spending – even though overall people have been saving rather than spending, they still have to eat.”
He says customers increasingly have a nose for convenience and affordability, which is what Il Locale can offer.
The husband and wife due – who already operate Tognini’s in Milton and Trattoria in Spring Hill – will occupy the Rosalie space for an initial period of five years, with two options of three years.
According to Il Locale’s premise, it will emulate “the traditional fare of Italy’s north” while “paying homage to quality produce.”
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