Mike Papatolis has opened a new “established and classy” wine bar on Glenelg, Adelaide, aiming to restore the suburb’s buzzing “heyday”.
According to the advertiser, Ballet Wine Bar offers a seasonal food menu to complement their selection of local and international wines, targeting middle-aged demographic with affordable pricing to ease cost-of-living pressures.
Mike Papatolis expressed concern that Glenelg was losing its appeal, with tourists and locals having “nowhere else to go”.
He noted that visitors often leave for the city after a few nights, resulting in a loss for Glenelg. “We thought bringing something a bit more established and classy down the bay – somewhere you can feel comfortable – would be better for the area,” said Mr.Papatolis.
“We want to be a destination where it’s a wine bar that serves food – we never want to become a restaurant with a good wine list. Wine is still the focus, but if you’re hungry and want some food, it should be on the table pretty quick.”
This opening coincides with Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson’s $40m redevelopment plan for the 1km stretch of Jetty Rd, designed to transform it into a “modern, five-star, safe, and world-class destination.”
However, according to the Advertiser, some locals criticised the council’s decision to borrow $30m to fund the redevelopment and raise rates, including a 2.3 levy over three years – about $40 a year on average for homeowners.
Mr. Papatolis supported the upgrade. “Twenty years ago the street was buzzing and it was great, and then slowly it’s just become a bit grimier and a bit dirtier,” he said. “I think the redevelopment is good – it’s going to brighten the street up, fix the footpath, fix the road and just make people feel more comfortable going out again along here.”
Source: The Advertiser
