A LARGELY derelict upstairs area of a Dean Street shop constructed in the 1930s has been brought back to life in a major way.
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It was the same spot where business partners AJ Alkady and Matt Wehbeh initially slept when they moved to Albury from Melbourne three years ago to start up Downtown Pizzeria.
Uptown is the name of a second restaurant and bar which has been created in that upstairs area and it has an invite-only, grand opening on Saturday night.
“The growth in Melbourne makes it hard for young guys like us to start a business,” Mr Alkady said.
“Here it had potential and it was affordable compared to Melbourne.”
Mr Alkady was regularly being asked by Downtown Pizzeria customers if they had plans for the upstairs area where members of the family which built the shop, the Farrahs, also once lived.
“It was a dead space,” he said.
“Everybody was asking questions about it and we came up with the idea of turning it into something.
“It’s how it all started.
“We are trying to create a back in the day look with classic bar style where the little bit older generation can come and enjoy a drink or glass of wine.
“It is a different menu to downstairs and different customers hopefully will come to the restaurant.”
Mr Wehbeh said they slept in the upstairs section for nearly two months as they went to work immediately in Downtown Pizzeria and didn’t have time to find something to rent.
But he said they haven’t regretted the move from Melbourne where they worked in restaurants in the western suburbs.
“It is more relaxed, more kicked back and people are more friendly,” he said.
The $60,000 makeover of the upstairs area also includes a balcony upgrade and repair and repainting of the front facade.
The restaurant and bar will be open Thursday to Sunday 6pm to midnight.
Food will be prepared in the downstairs kitchen and transported up via a “dumbwaiter” which also had to be installed.
A large bar is also a new addition to the area.
