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First it was Beaufort Street. Then came West Leederville. As of July, the CBD will be home to Mary Street Bakery’s newest outpost when owners Paul Aron and Michael Forde turn their attention to the old Bar One site at QV1.
The prospect of desk breaks at Mary Street is reason enough to celebrate (salted caramel doughnuts!), but the third venue is about more than just a sugar hit. It will include a restaurant, two bars, a specialty liquor store and kiosk. In other words, Aron and Forde want their new venture to be a vital part of city workers’ lives, just as the former Bar One was.
“The venues I like to create, especially in the city, need to be more European in essence,” says Aron, a veteran bartender that has worked at key venues in London and Melbourne as well as Perth.
He’s keen to continue the building’s “always there for you” history. “When I moved to Perth, Bar One was the best place to go in the CBD. It was a classic, long Friday lunch venue and a really busy bar on a Friday night. It was probably the first place in Perth that felt like a bar and not a hotel.”
The project will open in two stages, starting with the Mary Street Bakery kiosk in July and the rest of yet-to-be-named venue going live in October. Although the kiosk is takeaway-only, customers will be able to eat in an alfresco area once construction is complete.
Space won’t be in short supply. Between the dining room and bars, the venue will seat 200 people with the liquor store available for private events.
As at the existing cafes, the menu will be accessible, with much of the cooking revolving around the wood-fired grill and rotisserie. Expect roast chook and Middle Eastern salads using herbs and vegetables grown on rooftop gardens at QV1, served alongside outre drinks.
Mary Street Bakery will opens its CBD kiosk in July.
Mary Street Bakery
