The Grounds of Alexandria is headed to the big smoke, but don't expect rambling gardens, copper shingle outdoor bars or farmyard pets when it opens at the Galeries, on George Street, in downtown Sydney.
One of the biggest hospitality success stories in recent years, its cocktail of coffee, a bakery, florist and open gardens has seen the Grounds courted to open branches from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
But its operators have been careful about rapid expansion, making it a coup for the CBD.
Co-director Ramzey Choker confirmed they've targeted the former home of Mecca Cosmetica at the Galeries, along with a neighbouring site.
While its progress is conditional on a new mezzanine level, the Grounds' talented designer Acme & Co is advanced with plans for a late 2015-early 2016 launch.
Choker isn't setting out to duplicate the Grounds: "We want to create memorable experiences. So it's about how can we do that in a corporate city environment."
Part of the reason behind the go-slow approach to a wider rollout has been the constant expansion at the Grounds in Alexandria, where a cider room, meat shop, children's cinema and wood-chopping area are part of the stage two blueprint.
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