A new Hobart diner that was once home to a neighbourhood laundromat has been approved by Hobart councillors tonight, despite some residents being concerned about noise, parking and ‘drunk people’.
The ‘small New York-style diner’, spearheaded by two ex-MONA chefs, is destined for the Westside Laundromat building, which sits on the outskirts of the Hobart CBD on the corner of Molle and Goulburn Streets.
Concerned residents labelled the proposed 7 day, 7:30am to 9pm operating hours as “not appropriate for a residential area”, with one worried the diner would draw “inebriated hipsters” to a nearby park in the early hours of each morning.
Others were worried about noise, people management and parking – saying residents are already dealing with difficulties finding carparks in the area, however the council found no major issues and approved the application.
The brainchild of hospitality heavyweights with over 40 years of combined experience, Dom Walsh and Fletcher Scott described the venture in their proposal as an “inner city aperitivo bar and diner with a subtle 1940s Americana themed atmosphere”.
“Throughout the day, Westside Laundry will be open and bright, ideally with alfresco frontage, small cafe tables, booth dining and bar stools.”
The duo say they’re looking to target 18 and 60-year-old ‘culturally aware locals’ and plan on attracting students and budget conscious travellers by offering ‘happy hour’ specials during early evening hours.
Councillor Ryan Posselt called the concerns around parking “relatively mild”, while the Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet put forward an amendment to the opening hours from 9pm to 8pm, however others around the table quashed the idea, with Councillor Bill Harvey saying the 9pm closing time was “quite reasonable”.
