Food revival in Melbourne's west-end legal precinct

Things are looking up for hungry legal and corporate types in the CBD's west end, with the revival of the St James precinct at 555 Bourke Street. The smart new development, owned and managed by Juilliard and tenanted by CBRE real estate, has targeted ''boutique, owner-operator businesses'', says Zelman Ainsworth of CBRE. Tenants include salad outlet Famish'd, Simply Spanish - also at the South Melbourne market - as well as Goz City, Pok Pok, Brioche by Philip and Spin Coffee.

The adjoining retail strip within the development is under negotiation. Ainsworth says potential tenants ''are high-profile from some of Melbourne's best retail strips and precincts who are looking to establish a presence in the Melbourne CBD''. St James sits on the block between Bourke and Little Collins streets and William and King streets, and has outdoor dining for up to 100 people. The food outlets are open for breakfast and lunch weekdays, with dinner Wednesday to Friday nights.