Overview
When 2023 reached its midway point, Brisbane said goodbye to Milano's and the Pig 'N' Whistle in the Queen Street Mall, with both closing their doors at the end of June. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced plans to demolish the two to free up more open space, as part of the Brisbane City Council's City to South Bank Vision, aka its roadmap to revamping the popular stretch of inner-city pavement.
Don't go thinking that you can't still get something to eat at the respective George Street and Edward Street ends of the QSM, then. Replacing the two structures is a series of pop-ups, which the council also outlined last year. And, the first dining activations are now up and running, including the mall's debut pop-up restaurant, plus excuses to tuck into dessert and coffee.
In the Edward Street section, Sons of Napoli has set up shop. Operating out of a vintage farm truck, it has launched a 60-seater slinging woodfired pizzas, and will stick around until early February
"We're absolutely thrilled to be offering Queen Street Mall patrons a sample of delicious Italian fare from our restaurants this summer," said Sons of Napoli co-owner Judy Dillon.
At the George Street end, Gelato à Go Go and Fonzie Abbott are doing the honours, giving QSM visitors more dessert and caffeine options. The two share a seating area, so you can still sit down to sip your cuppa or lick your way through an ice cream.
"Our plans to revitalise Queen Street Mall will pave the way for new activations to pop up around peak seasonal dates or when major events come to town, delivering further economic benefits for Brisbane," said the Lord Mayor.
"Queen Street Mall is still one of the busiest malls in Australia with more than one million movements through the mall every week and that's because it has continued to evolve over the past 40 years."
Back when the council first revealed its new mall plans, it advised that turning the reclaimed space at either end of the paving into licensed pop-ups was on the cards. Gin bars and brewery tastings were also floated, so fingers crossed that they come next.
Tearing down Milano's and the Pig 'N' Whistle is one of two massive changes in the Queen Street Mall in the past year. The other: losing the Myer Centre, with Myer moving out and the shopping complex itself renamed Uptown.
Find Sons of Napoli at the Edward Street end of the Queen Street Mall, Queen Street, Brisbane — and Gelato à Go Go and Fonzie Abbott at the George Street end. Sons of Napoli will be onsite until early February.
For more information about Brisbane City Council's City to South Bank Vision, head to Councillor Vicki Howard's website.