Pizzeria grabs slice of train hub shake-up
Mr Mathis' new 250-seat pizza-focused pub will sit under one of the station's yellow administration pods near Collins Street and is expected to be completed in mid-July.
Mr Mathis' CV boasts a string of the city's much-loved and talked about eateries, from Joe's Garage and Blue Train to Soulmama and Taxi.
He is well known for his popular Firechief pizzeria in Hawthorn East and South Wharf restaurants Bangpop (Thai) and Akachochin (Japanese) but his new venture will be a "simple" foodie-style pub, the Network Public Bar and Pizzeria on the main concourse.
The seven-day-a-week restaurant is a key piece in an extensive $22 million retail refurbishment of Southern Cross by the station's manager, Assetco Management, which began in 2011.
It included installing a mini-Woolworths supermarket as an anchor tenant and increasing the number of shops from 28 to 48, expanding the retail space by more than 40 per cent, from 4700 square metres to 6800 square metres.
CBRE's retail leasing team Zelman Ainsworth and Max Cookes said they were close to finalising the last tenant at the station.
The 40 million commuters passing through each year had attracted a range of new tenants, including most recently In a Rush Espresso and mobile phone retailer Vodafone, Mr Ainsworth said.
"The rapid rise in commuter numbers and changes in the precinct's demographics required a rethink of the retail mix," Mr Ainsworth said.
The station's other food tenants include a Hungry Jack's, Red Rooster, Pie Face, Sugar Station, Tower Sushi, Mad Mex and Grill'd.
Mr Mathis said the Network Public Bar would serve simple, napoletana pizza as well as other pub-style food to a clientele of business people, travellers and footy fans. "Just because it's in a station, doesn't mean it's not going to be stylish. The pizza will be as good as any pizza you will find," he said.
Collingwood-based CHT architects have designed the 362-square-metre venue which, with an outdoor seating area and standing room, will hold up to 300 people.
It replicates similar venues at other large railway hubs such as London's Paddington Station.
Mr Mathis will run the business in partnership with the Dominion Hotel Group. In 2010, Dominion brought the Castello Group's 10 Victorian hotels, including the Angler's Tavern, Templestowe Hotel, Long Beach Hotel and Royal Oak Hotel.
sjohanson@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Southern Cross Station has undergone a $22 million retail refurbishment led by manager Assetco Management (work began in 2011). The upgrade expanded retail space by more than 40% (from 4,700 to 6,800 square metres) and increased the number of shops from 28 to 48, including a mini-Woolworths anchor. For everyday investors, this matters because the project is explicitly aimed at better serving about 40 million commuters a year and repositioning the precinct’s retail mix — factors that can improve leasing demand and long‑term rental income potential.
Experienced restaurateur Paul Mathis is opening the Network Public Bar and Pizzeria on the main concourse. The 250‑seat, pizza‑focused, seven‑day‑a‑week venue will serve napoletana pizzas and pub‑style food to business people, travellers and footy fans. The venue sits under one of the station’s yellow administration pods near Collins Street and is expected to be completed in mid‑July.
The Network Public Bar and Pizzeria is a 362‑square‑metre venue designed by Collingwood‑based CHT architects. With outdoor seating and standing room, the space will hold up to about 300 people, and it offers roughly 250 seats for diners.
Assetco Management manages the Southern Cross retail precinct. CBRE’s retail leasing team — specifically Zelman Ainsworth and Max Cookes — have been handling leasing and said they were close to finalising the last tenant at the station.
The refurb has attracted a mix of food and service retailers. Recent additions include In a Rush Espresso and mobile phone retailer Vodafone. Other food tenants at the station include Hungry Jack’s, Red Rooster, Pie Face, Sugar Station, Tower Sushi, Mad Mex and Grill’d.
The station handles about 40 million commuters annually. The rapid rise in commuter numbers and demographic changes in the precinct prompted a rethink of the retail mix. Higher and more varied foot traffic can increase demand for convenience, food and services — improving occupancy rates and making retail space more attractive to landlords and investors.
The Network Public Bar is designed to replicate the look and feel of successful large‑railway‑hub venues (the article specifically references London’s Paddington Station). The concept pairs high‑quality, stylish food (napoletana pizza) with high‑volume commuter footfall, a strategy commonly used in major transport hubs to attract repeat customers and diversify retail income.
Paul Mathis will run the Network Public Bar and Pizzeria in partnership with the Dominion Hotel Group. Dominion has a track record in Victorian hospitality — in 2010 it acquired the Castello Group’s 10 Victorian hotels, including properties such as the Angler’s Tavern, Templestowe Hotel, Long Beach Hotel and Royal Oak Hotel.
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