News & Discussion: CBD Retail

[Ben]

Jamie's Italian promises about 100 jobs to staff new restaurant opening in Adelaide CBD in 2014

by: FOOD WRITER Dianne Mattsson

From: The Advertiser

December 11, 2013 5:59PM

THERE is a welcome seed of excitement on the work front, despite today's news of manufacturing job losses.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is promising employment for about 100 hospitality workers when his new CBD restaurant opens late next year.

Echoes of his down-to-earth style could be heard throughout a Jamie's Italian exec's visit to Adelaide yesterday.

In strict "Jamie's rules" casual dress, JO's Australian operations manager Karen Westfield announced that help is wanted in the CBD.

Ms Westfield had a sneak peak at the now-confirmed home to be of Jamie's Italian, in the historic WESTPAC bank site at No 2 King William St , city.

She also met Regency TAFE hopefuls, hospitality student Jess Teakle, 18, and Jurie van Wyngaard, 20, who is ready to go with his commercial cookery ticket.

They celebrated the good job news at the dramatic entrance to the site, a giant bank-security-grade embossed steel door which opens downwards, disappearing into a basement.

The door is one of many historic features, including the lofty banking chamber and basement safe, being restored to blend with the restaurant fitout.

The Adelaide arm in the series of restaurants, a partnership between Jamie Oliver and his Italian mentor, Chef Gennaro Contaldo, follows successful openings in Sydney, Perth, Canberra and, most recently, Brisbane.

"We're welcoming everyone to apply," says Karen. "The traits we are looking for are the passion and the love of food. Our restaurants are fast-paced and exciting. For successful candidates, there are plenty of opportunities for progression and travel too.''

Keenest applications will be accepted from today, with a recruiting drive to follow early in the new year for chefs of all levels, kitchen hands, bar staff, hosts, managers and waiters.

Karen promises as many local people as possible will be employed, and local produce will feature on the menus.

"There will definitely be lots of unique elements (at the Adelaide site) from the design of the restaurant to some of the produce we'll be using," she says. "We always offer daily specials which will allow us to make the most of all the incredible ingredients available here."

With the unique heritage-listed premises, adjacent to Adelaide icons including Parliament and Government House, specific reference to the building's bank history is planned, "emphasising the amazing ceiling height in the banking chamber, as well as using the main safe in the basement".

"The look and feel will be quite different to the other Jamie's Italians in Australia."

Jess and Jurie were excited to collect details for their applications.

"A job at Jamie's would be a seriously good experience, and it would look great on the resume," says Jess. "I use his recipes all the time."

"They will definitely get my application," says Jurie, who recently qualified with a Regency's Certificate 4, and is looking for an apprenticeship.

"Jamie is one of the greats. I would be one of the happiest people alive working here.

"This is also going to be a great boost for hospitality jobs in Adelaide. You'll get great training; it's the type of job that will set you up."

To apply, email [email protected]

[Ben]

Adelaide's first Koko Black is going to open in Adelaide Arcade. Hope it doesn't take too much business away from Haighs.

[Ben]

Point Zero has been leased but not sure who to.

DA/1090/2013 30/12/2013
Complying Development
Shop tenancy fitout (G-39) Point Zero - G.39,
Ground 77-91 Rundle Mall, ADELAIDE SA 5000

[Ben]

First CBD Krispy Kreme

Type: Application Assessed on Merit
Application Number: DA/1097/2013
Lodgement Date: 27/12/2013
Location: Stanleys Seafood Restaurant, 76 Gouger Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description: Cafe fitout, shopfront alterations, signage and glass screens on footpath - (Krispy Kreme)

[shaun]

Odd location.

[DaveAdl]

Odd location.

Not really with Cibo and BTS only a handful of doors away

[shaun]

Odd location.

Not really with Cibo and BTS only a handful of doors away

Cibo have numerous outlets throughout the CBD.

I would of thought Krispy Kreme would first target a highly patronised area (eg Rundle Mall) first before going to a well established restaurant precinct. Anyway I'm not fussed, KK are very overrated and eventually the hype will die down in SA.

[Patrick_27]

First CBD Krispy Kreme

Type: Application Assessed on Merit
Application Number: DA/1097/2013
Lodgement Date: 27/12/2013
Location: Stanleys Seafood Restaurant, 76 Gouger Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description: Cafe fitout, shopfront alterations, signage and glass screens on footpath - (Krispy Kreme)

As a relative of the man behind Gourmet Glaze, this business can F right off. Their presence should not be welcomed and only adds competition in a market already well-catered for by GG, Dreamy Donuts and what's left of Donut King. Not to mention their doughnuts are poorly made. It's unbelievably selfish for Peregrine a corporation established in South Australia to birth an international brand upon Adelaide despite the knowledge of pre-existing SA and Australian own businesses operating here - I hope the brand's future is as short-term as Starbucks.

[shaun]

I'm no KK fan. But there is big demand for them to have a presence in SA, so you can't blame the Peregrine Group wanting to join up with KK.

I see no harm in them opening here, and I don't believe it will put Goument Glaze in jeopardy. Competition can be a good thing (most of the time anyway)

[dsriggs]

Remember when Starbucks opened up here & all the local coffee chains shut down? That was awful...

[Waewick]

I never understood the love for KK, the same can be said for starbucks.

It appears to be like Maccas, people want it in their city to make it feel international, but competition is competition and we are a global community so bring it on.

[monotonehell]

Remember when Starbucks opened up here & all the local coffee chains shut down? That was awful...

What you did there, I saw it.

[claybro]

Loving the new interior of the Myer Centre, and the lower levels of the exterior look great (well better) as well. The only let down for me, is the tacky bamboo look treatment between floors in the atrium. Looks completely out of place. Also hope the Myer store itself gets with the program, and gets rid of that dated 80's marble flooring on the ground floor. Otherwise ...well done.

[Patrick_27]

Loving the new interior of the Myer Centre, and the lower levels of the exterior look great (well better) as well. The only let down for me, is the tacky bamboo look treatment between floors in the atrium. Looks completely out of place. Also hope the Myer store itself gets with the program, and gets rid of that dated 80's marble flooring on the ground floor. Otherwise ...well done.

Agreed, love the new look. However, the marble flooring on the ground level is new... Or are you referring to the basement level? There seems to be a few works that need to be undertaken which include: interior refurbishments of both sets of elevators (the elevations on the Eastern side of the Centre still need exterior refurbishments and minor painting work on all floors. Plus, the Myer itself is looking really tired on the ground level, weren't Myer meant to be undertaking a $20 million refurbishment??

They have a heap of retail spaces they need to fill on the upper levels which I don't see them achieving anytime soon with minimal foot-traffic up there. Only point I could recommend would be opening a reputable international retail outlet like Zara up there or an Officeworks (however, Officeworks were meant to open in Rundle Place last I remember). Had they not isolated the remaining floor I'd have suggested building a Hoyts, Wallis or Greater Union seven screen cinema up there (seeing as the proposed cinema for the riverside precinct is now scrapped). All that being said, I'm impressed at the use of retail space from the school of computer gaming design. It uses space that would otherwise be empty..

I feel they should have given more love to the building's exterior, whilst the new entrances look sleek, the green and cream above is a kill joy, whilst removing the cream would be hard (because the tower above is all the same colour the green could have at-least been altered to something with a darker tone.

Last point, the empty retail space above the Jeweler by the central entrance. Could that possibly be a second floor for a potential Top-Shop? I remember Top-Shop were slated for a space in the Myer Centre and if memory serves that part of the building was where I saw them. Seeing as one floor of would not cover nearly the floor-space that Top-Shop need, perhaps they have two floors?

[shaun]

The old dingy retail shops opposite the Myer Centre, eg Ice. Is currently being demolished or redeveloped.