Varsity Group is eyeing a Midland site for its next expansion following the opening of its Innaloo store in coming months.
The hospitality group is proposing to build its next store at the corner of Great Stirling Highway and Lloyd Street, joining a Midland food complex that also houses Perth’s first Taco Bell.
The $3 million proposal includes converting the western portion of the former showroom into a Varsity Bar with 846 square metres of ground floor area, a 158sqm mezzanine and 43sqm for an alfresco area.
The 1,755sqm eastern portion of the showroom is proposed to be turned into a 24-7 gym for a separate business, accommodating up to 100 people.
The City of Swan council supported its planning officer’s recommendation to approve the proposal, despite some councillors’ and residents’ objections due to potential noise, traffic and parking issues.
In the city’s responsible authority report, the council’s planning officer restrict the number of tavern patrons to 408 people to reduce the onsite parking requirement from 315 to 102 car bays.
The Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel will consider the proposal on May 16.
Varsity announced in January that it would open a seventh pub at the former Sizzler Innaloo site, next to Event Cinemas.
A liquor licence application for Varsity Innaloo has been lodged with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for assessment.
The 750 square metre site had been vacant since the US restaurant chain Sizzler closed its Australian restaurants in 2020.
Varsity managing director and co-founder, Ben Maher said the Innaloo store would be a flagship location for Varsity and one which involved significant investment to secure.
“We look forward to delivering an activated and vibrant venue that is known for its service, food and all round good times and which will complement and enhance the existing precinct,” he said in January.
Varsity Innaloo is expected to open mid-2022, joining other locations including Morley, Joondalup, Waterford, Nedlands, Fremantle and Northbridge.
