Overview
Fancy grabbing a bite to eat at the Brisbane Showgrounds — and not just a strawberry sundae or a showbag filled with Bertie Beetles when the Ekka is in town each August? Well, soon you can. Come July 2017, a new food-centric boutique laneway called Kings Co-op will make that dream a reality.
Taking over the space on the northern corner of King Street, Kings Co-op will transform a number of the site's long-standing buildings into a new food, retail and creative community hub, with opening up the facilities all year round and breathing life into historic structures among the project's main aims. With that in mind, prepare to spend a whole heap of time at the Royal Snack Bar. It'll form the centrepiece of the dining precinct, replacing the set-to-be-demolished RNA Snack Bar.
Nearby, the Sugar building and Dairy Industry Hall will also be revamped. As well as more restaurants, bars and outdoor eating, the iconic buildings will accommodate studio spaces for the creative industries, as well as proposed health and wellbeing facilities and stores, plus a multi-level carpark.
Kings Co-op is just the latest phase in the 15-year, $2.9 billion regeneration project, which has been underway for the past six years. As you've probably noticed, the revitalisation of the Fortitude Valley area has already seen a new hotel, residential complex and commercial development open their doors, and an initial dining precinct pop up. The latter features The George Bar and Bistro, GG Espresso and Fat Dumpling, with Italian restaurant Il Verde set to join them in September.
For more information about Kings Co-op, visit livekingstreet.com.au.