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Grounds of Alexandria to open new mega cafe in Eveleigh

Scott Bolles
Scott Bolles

New venture: Nick Ferguson and Ramzey Choker from The Grounds of Alexandria.
New venture: Nick Ferguson and Ramzey Choker from The Grounds of Alexandria.Supplied

The poster child for Sydney venues on social media is about to get some fresh eye candy, with The Grounds of Alexandria opening a new mega cafe/restaurant.

Owner Ramzey Choker confirmed he's taken a giant space in the former locomotive workshops at the redeveloped Australian Technology Park, now called South Eveleigh.

"It'll open mid to late next year and be called The Grounds Roastery," he told Good Food.

Design outfit ACME will craft the space, which Ramzey explains will take its cues from the internal courtyards of European and North African villas.

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"We're trying to get some skylights in so we can get some more light in there for greenery. It is always my belief that if you're going to do something big you need trees," he says.

The venue will include a relaxed mezzanine level and a giant coffee roastery as a design centrepiece. Head roaster Nick Ferguson will have his own research and development lab and espresso and brew bars.

Despite the coffee focus, Ramzey says the 200-plus seater will go big on food: "It'll be my style. A restaurant but easy-going."

The precinct - which neighbours Carriageworks - will eventually cater to about 18,000 workers. There have been rumours of a distillery also going in.

Choker refused to comment on the pricetag for The Grounds fit-out, but word on the laneways of the inner west suggests it will come with a price tag as high as $8 million.

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Scott BollesScott Bolles writes the weekly Short Black column in Good Food.

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