Coming Soon: Rodd & Gunn's Four-Level Flagship Will Bring Fashion, Fine Dining and an Underground Wine Bar to a Historic CBD Site
A Melbourne landmark with nearly 100 years of retail history will soon house Rodd & Gunn's most ambitious project yet.
For nearly a century, 280 Little Collins Street has stood as a significant retail and social hub for generations of Melburnians. Designed by celebrated Melbourne interwar architect Harry Norris as the first significant Chicago-inspired gothic-style commercial building in Victoria, it opened in 1930 as the flagship store of the fast-expanding G J Coles empire — later rebadged as Coles — before David Jones took over in the 1980s, transforming the site into that brand's Melbourne menswear flagship.
This October, the heritage-listed building will embark on a new chapter as Rodd & Gunn's new global flagship. The upcoming store will showcase fashion, dining and design across its four floors, marking the New Zealand outfitter's most ambitious venture to date. It follows the recent arrival of Mecca's new Bourke Street flagship in the northern wing of the same building, marking a new era for one of Melbourne's most distinctive addresses.
Rodd & Gunn has worked with St Kilda-based Studio Y to reimagine the building's southern wing, weaving its art deco glamour with hospitality-led design. Arched motifs, curved joinery, stepped stone and metallic accents nod to the 1930s, while warm timbers, natural stone and marble accents echo Rodd & Gunn's contemporary aesthetic.
"This building holds a special place in Melbourne's history, and we wanted our flagship to honour that legacy at every turn," says Mike Beagley, Rodd & Gunn CEO (pictured below). "Every design choice was made to respect its heritage while creating something entirely new."
Each of the four distinct but connected levels offers a different experience. The lower-ground Cellar pays homage to the famed Coles Cafeteria, combining a retail wine store with an innovative cocktail laboratory by Matt Bax (Bar Americano), an Italian-inspired menu featuring handmade pasta and all-day aperitivi. Oversized checkerboard flooring, bluestone laneway walkways, intimate booth seating and mood lighting evoke the feeling of a wine cave.
The ground floor will become an elegant, immersive retail space, where cornice plasterwork and marble joinery are juxtaposed with modern display fixtures, heritage-inspired balustrades and robust timber finishes. The mezzanine, meanwhile, will be home to an exclusive Member's Bar, a handsomely wood-panelled, club-like space with sculptural lighting by Volker Haug, Kiwi-inspired snacks and classic cocktails for loyalty clientele.
The Lodge Bar & Dining, Brisbane
The crown jewel sits on level one: The Lodge Dining Room. Framed by soaring arched windows and antique mirrors, the grand yet intimate space offers produce-led menus — ranging from à la carte to ten-course tasting journeys — by Executive Chef James Evangelinos (New York's The Musket Room, hatted Sydney pub Hotel Centennial and James Packer's former personal chef). Wines are curated by Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas, showcasing the best of New Zealand alongside standout Australian and international drops, while a reeded-glass private dining room with a striking white marble table adds a layer of exclusivity.
The new flagship will open in two stages. The retail store and subterranean cellar will launch in early October, followed by the private lounge and dining room later in the month.
"While New Zealand will always remain Rodd & Gunn's spiritual home, the opening of our Melbourne flagship is our way of giving back to a city that has supported Rodd & Gunn from the very beginning," says Josh Beagley, Director of The Lodge Group. "Every surface in this flagship tells a story — a dialogue between past and present that honours the history of the building and the fabric of our brand."
The Lodge Bar & Dining, Brisbane
Rodd & Gunn's Little Collins Street flagship opens in October 2025. For more information, head to the brand's website.
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