Black Kite Commune
30 Russell Place Melbourne
@Blackkitecommune
From the crew behind Melbourne Icons Gin Palace, Bar Ampere and bijou bottle retailer comes the most recent addition to the Russell Place Hospitality assemblage – Black Kite Commune. A full desk service cocktail and wine bar championing Australian merchandise alongside worldwide staples.
Impressed by supper golf equipment of Melbourne’s early 1900s, proprietor Ben Luzz reimagined the prevailing house to be a moody, attractive beacon for people who benefit from the nightlife. The cocktail checklist was curated by venue supervisor Jess Clayfield (ex-Gin Palace) the place she moved past the development of seasonality and as a substitute created a cocktail symphony by way of synesthesia. The again bar presents the proper stability of sunshine and darkish spirits with a number of extraordinarily uncommon bottlings for the discerning drinker. The concise wine checklist presents palate profiles from Mild and Vibrant to Wealthy & Lush to Skinsy & Lo Fi.
Impressed by supper golf equipment of Melbourne’s early 1900s, proprietor Ben Luzz reimagined the prevailing house to be a moody, attractive beacon for people who benefit from the nightlife.
Stroll in and be instantly distracted by the textured golden tiled backbar bejewelled with luxe, uncommon and high quality liquor, whilst you determine which seat to settle into. Are you a ‘seat on the bar’ one that prefers to see the magic of the employees expertly stir, shake and tweeze from behind the custom-designed ‘No Step’ bar? If that’s too near the motion, a bar desk by the window or a fresco desk alongside the balcony outdoors. For those who desire a extra personal and luxe expertise you’ll be able to sift via the refined and plentiful checklist of Magnums and Jeroboams from your personal personal sales space upstairs within the loft, the place you’ll be able to merely press a golden button for service.
With a pointy fit-out by Michael Delaney and intelligent branding by Studio Calero, Black Kite Commune is a good addition to the inventive Bar trade in Melbourne. Black Kite Commune supplies the temper and heat for winter in Melbourne and the sunshine and house for beautiful summers.
Whereas the liquids on these menus are the true hero, the bar meals are their excellent accompaniment; inventive, Australian produce ahead, and out there till shut.
Q&A with Bar Operator Ben Luzz
Issues have been busy for you with a few new openings – Bijou & Black Kite Commune. What impressed you to get again into opening new venues?
Largely boredom within the case of bijou bottle retailer and truthfully I used to be actually bored. Opening a brand new venue is a loopy quantity of labor and the lockdowns gave me lots of time to ponder what I used to be doing and the place I used to be going. Additionally figuring out that we might have a number of extra lockdowns I used to be attempting to covid proof the group by opening one thing that might keep open for takeaway.
Additionally, it’s what I like doing, constructing or rebuilding a enterprise is the place the fun is. As soon as it’s open and ticking and methods are in place I get bored once more. bijou was busy from day one so it didn’t take lengthy for me to step again and let the crew do their factor. Kelsey Stringer and Bran Kinsella have seen it develop to only about as busy as it will possibly get and have finished a tremendous job with constructing a crew and killing it with service and product.
“One more reason to open a fourth venue is to present valued employees a pathway inside the firm and assist them develop within the trade. Covid confirmed us we have to nurture folks to remain within the trade because it’s all too straightforward to go away for a day job.”
I assume that is the place Black Kite is available in. Con Christopoulos hadn’t reopened Neapoli on the different finish of Russell Place and with the opposite three venues at capability, it simply appeared apparent to open it once more and never have any “for lease” indicators on the laneway. Jess Clayfield was AVM at Gin Palace and was about to move abroad. She’s been such an asset to the expansion of GP I wished to maintain her for so long as potential so provided her the VM position at BKC. One more reason to open a fourth venue is to present valued employees a pathway inside the firm and assist them develop within the trade. Covid confirmed us we have to nurture folks to remain within the trade because it’s all too straightforward to go away for a day job.
How have issues been in Melbourne, post-pandemic?
We’re having the very best days, weeks and months on report. I do know another companies have struggled or closed and I really feel for them, however we preserve going from energy to energy. We reopened 7 days every week instantly and noticed Mondays do Thursday gross sales as most locations couldn’t open each day.
The toughest side post-pandemic has been getting everybody to loosen up. Quite a bit within the trade felt the necessity to preserve implementing guidelines that have been not mandated. I spent lots of time reminding our employees that folks don’t exit for guidelines. Bars are a spot to calm down and loosen up and so long as they’re not being dicks, prospects ought to really feel comfy (even inspired) to let their hair down.
You have been in partnership with the legendary Vernon Chalker, I’m positive you continue to fill his loss, particularly in Gin Palace. How has that been for you?
It was extremely onerous to return collectively as a bunch of mates and grieve as a result of his passing away originally of the lockdowns. It appeared to pull it out for all of us as we had one on one Zoom chats to mourn for months and months, martinis in hand clearly.
Pearls has organised a number of commemorative days since which have been a chance to get collectively and keep in mind the great occasions. He’ll at all times be an integral a part of Gin Palace, we nonetheless hear his voice within the venue.
What are your tricks to different younger potential bar homeowners? Ought to they do it?
100% sure. however don’t simply soar into it. I feel everybody has their very own path to opening a venue and mine is perhaps completely completely different to others however right here’s a number of ideas from my expertise.
* Do a enterprise course or learn a small enterprise guide. A few of it’s boring as all fuck however so are some elements of proudly owning small enterprise. You’ll want to learn to do the boring stuff like accounting. P&Ls are such an necessary software and in case you can’t learn one, don’t open a bar till you do.
* Exit and take a look at each side of the venues you go to. Constructively criticise it in your head, and take into consideration what you’d repair if it was yours. Mark down the bits that wow you and why they wow you and the way you may combine that into your marketing strategy. Don’t simply go to high-end venues. I’ve discovered inspiration in small cheap venues doing nice issues.
* Go abroad and expertise worldwide bars, it’s tax deductable! Or on the very least comply with as many bars as you’ll be able to on Instagram.
* Go purchase somewhat guide right this moment and begin writing your concepts in there. In case you have some ideas floating round, you would possibly stroll previous that little empty store with a for lease signal that may match it completely.
* Communicate to as many bar homeowners as you’ll be able to, you’re not reinventing the wheel, its all been finished earlier than so hear and study.
* E-mail me. I’m blissful to take a seat down over a martini and supply some pointers.
