Coming Soon: Emme, an All-Day Diner on James Street Celebrating Food, Art and Fashion

If you’ve strolled past the James Street Market recently, you’ve likely noticed Emme. With its vibrant orange signage and the bustle of construction activity at the venue, it’s hard to miss.

After months of development, Emme is set to open in early April, occupying the former Spoon Deli space. Initially serving breakfast and lunch, with plans to include a dinner offering down the line, former Greca head chef Thomas Tze Lian has been tapped to oversee the kitchen. Lian has already flagged his intention to change the menu frequently.

“We’re calling it Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired, but one week it might be more Asian-inspired,” says Marie Bobinet, Emme’s marketing manager. “[The menu] will depend on what Tommy gets from our suppliers – we’ll probably be doing new menus every week.”

The beverage selection will feature a tight 50-bottle wine list, tinnies of Felons and a concise cocktail offering. There will also be a substantial non-alcoholic menu.

For the fit-out, Alkot Studio is in charge of the interior design, while Tonic Projects is carrying out the build. (The same teams that were behind Pilloni ’s design award-nominated space.) Expect a stunning interior with plenty of natural light, earth tones and an open firepit in the kitchen.

Bobinet envisions the venue as a platform to showcase art and fashion through partnerships with other businesses to bring James Street together. “ The Calile did it really well and brought James Street to life,” she says. “That’s why we’ve collaborated with a few established brands like [fashion boutiques] Calexico and Milu. Eventually we want to showcase all the… brands of James Street.” The team plans to host runway events as well as fashion and art showcases in the future.

Emme is set to host ticketed events later this month, providing a sneak peek of the space before it opens to the public.

Emme will open at 3/22 James Street, Fortitude Valley in early April.

@emme.jamesst