$32-million Circular Quay redevelopment loses Ura-San restaurant

The $32-million Campbells Stores redevelopment at Circular Quay has another non-starter, with the Japanese restaurant named after chef Nobuyuki Ura, an 11-year veteran at Merivale's Sushi-e, jettisoning the project.

The waterfront Ura-San restaurant was one of the most anticipated openings of 2019, and follows Pendolino owner-chef Nino Zoccali's decision to pull the pin late last year on plans to open Venetian Republic restaurant there.

Ura-San was supposed to open mid-year with a luxe interior and a pioneering menu.

Its operator, restaurateur Bill Younes, ducked detail on why it isn't opening, citing "unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances".

But Younes is proceeding with the second restaurant he planned for Campbells Stores, The Rocks Seafood, a 260-seater with chef John Pye in the kitchen.

Keep an eye out for Ura – the talented chef is bound to pop up elsewhere.