Docklands restaurants face new challenges
Acelya Sal operates NewQuay Turkish restaurant in Docklands, a residential and commercial area near West Melbourne. Docklands was once a popular destination for restaurant patrons, but over the past 10 months, 15 eateries have closed. That is 40% of residents’ dining choices gone.
Sal told Rachel Wells of the Melbourne Age that she believes the region is no longer marketed in the way it should be, explaining:
Komil Pardhan, a Docklands resident has stopped using local restaurants because the ones he enjoyed have all closed. He says there is more variety if he eats in the city. Restaurateur Lou Jovanovski used to have six restaurants in Docklands. He declares he has spent $10m trying to entice restaurant customers back to Docklands.
Jovanovski says that the Harbour Town Shopping Centre has been under-subscribed by retailers, and the operation of the Southern Star observational Ferris wheel has been delayed.
A representative of the City of Melbourne told the Age that one quarter of the annual marketing budget has been spent on the promotion of Docklands. Judging by the professional and creative poster printing that helped support the recent Docklands Arts and Laughs Festival, many people are still working to draw visitors to the area. There is still hope in the area, however, and an online video campaign was launched this month to promote the new Hollywood International Buffet.
Sal told Rachel Wells of the Melbourne Age that she believes the region is no longer marketed in the way it should be, explaining:
“Four years ago we almost couldn't handle how busy it was. It was being marketed as a prestigious destination. Now there's nothing and we're like 'c'mon where is everyone?'”
Komil Pardhan, a Docklands resident has stopped using local restaurants because the ones he enjoyed have all closed. He says there is more variety if he eats in the city. Restaurateur Lou Jovanovski used to have six restaurants in Docklands. He declares he has spent $10m trying to entice restaurant customers back to Docklands.
Jovanovski says that the Harbour Town Shopping Centre has been under-subscribed by retailers, and the operation of the Southern Star observational Ferris wheel has been delayed.
A representative of the City of Melbourne told the Age that one quarter of the annual marketing budget has been spent on the promotion of Docklands. Judging by the professional and creative poster printing that helped support the recent Docklands Arts and Laughs Festival, many people are still working to draw visitors to the area. There is still hope in the area, however, and an online video campaign was launched this month to promote the new Hollywood International Buffet.