Businesses work together to create city-style outdoor dining
Since late October expressions of interest have been open for Melton City businesses to propose ideas on how to extend their outdoor dining areas. Much of the interest has been focused on maximising existing space through footpath trading, while a few businesses have been interested in trialling out a parklet – increased area made available by using a car parking space.
One of the first businesses owners to get in touch was Chris Constantinou from Pinolos Pizza in Hillside. Pinolos Pizza is one of five food businesses in a small shopping precinct off Melton Highway, which approached Council as a group.
The team of businesses wanted to work together to make their shared outdoor space feel more connected. Local business, Events 720 did an onsite visit and proposed a dining booth option that gives a consistent and connected feel while allowing each business to maintain their own personality.
Joe Pinolo, part owner and head Chef at Pinolos Pizza
Council funded the build of the booths, while businesses used their $5,000 Outdoor Eating and Entertainment grants from Victorian Government to add personal touches through the furnishings.
Chris thought outside the box and contacted a local artist to create a bright mural on the back of the booth.
“People love it,” Chris reports.
“We have customers coming up to me telling me it feels like Lygon Street”.
Chris said he was pleased to be working together to achieve more, adding that Council funding of the structure allowed the businesses to spend their grant on extras, such as the mural and decorative plants.
“I got a kick out of having a better connection with the Council. And I enjoy promoting this working relationship to my customers.”
The outdoor seating acts as a food court and encourages customers to sample the range of food offered in the precinct which includes pizza, chicken, fish and chips, Indian, Asian noodles and Thai. Just like a food court in a shopping centre, a group of patrons can sit on one table with a pizza from Pinolos and a chicken burger from Ollies.
Chis encouraged businesses to talk to one another and see each other as neighbours rather than competition.
“If one of us succeeds, we all succeed. One of our regulars was coming in over and over again for pizza and I said, ‘Hey you’re always having pizza, why not try a burger next door, they are amazing.’
“By having all five of us as food businesses it attracts people to us. People want diversity and they come here because it’s a food precinct. We find that if one or two of us are closed and the rest are open we are actually quieter rather than when the whole strip is open. It just works a lot better.
“We have a good mixture here, and even a doctor just in case something goes wrong!”
Do you have an idea for outdoor dining or precinct activation?
Council is still accepting Expressions of Interest and open to working with business precincts on an idea to activate their spaces to accommodate outdoor dining.
You can:
Submit your expression of interest online
or contact Council’s Place Engagement and Activation Officer, Randi Wagner:
randiw@melton.vic.gov.au