You could call it a match made in heaven.
Two of the Whakatipu’s most renowned hospo operators have joined forces on a new CBD offering, Soda, expected to open in the second quarter of next year.
Republic Hospitality, which operates the likes of Ballarat Trading Co, The Sundeck and Winnies, has teamed up with experienced Arrowtown duo Penelope ‘PJ’ Johnson and Sam Gruar, of People Like Us — owners of La Rumbla and Slow Cuts — to open the new restaurant in the space previously occupied by Prime Restaurant, on Rees Street.
Republic took over the premises from Mark Jessop a year ago, and CEO Blair Impey says the group told landlord Skyline Enterprises, ‘we want to make it like La Rumbla’.
‘‘Then, instead of thinking how to make it like La Rumbla, [we thought] we may as well contact PJ and Sam, who’ve got a great reputation, then it was just about working out the right fit.
‘‘It seemed so natural, because they’re about great hospitality and fun, and fun’s in the DNA of Republic, so with that we were confident that we could work together.
‘‘It’s about bringing that quality, we know it’s a proven concept that so many people love, but we’re trying to add an extra effervescence.’’
That touch of sparkle is what’s inspired the name, deliberately not tied to any particular style of food, though Gruar, who’s designing the menu, says it’ll be Latin-American and Mediterranean fare, with a few favourites from La Rumbla, including the ceviche and paella, along with an impressive selection of wood-fired meats, cooked on a new, large grill.
Ironically enough, Johnson and Gruar had looked at the Prime space about five years ago.
‘‘It’s next level,’’ Gruar says.
‘‘We wanted to get our little hands on it … [but] it was a big job.’’
Johnson: ‘‘It was when we’d just done Slow Cuts and looking at maybe doing a La Rumbla in town; for just the two of us to be taking on this project, it was just way out of the comfort zone.
‘‘This is a good match-up to make it happen.’’
Impey says the refurb, being carried out by Arrowtown’s Sam Shefford and Shane Johnstone, of Alpine Construction, is cooking with gas — ‘‘it’s been fully ripped out, all we’ve bought is a shell’’, while the design — which will be fresh, bright and modern — is being handled by Auckland-based Ctrl Space, responsible for Saint Alice in Auckland’s Viaduct, and Lilian in Grey Lynn.
The interior design’s got a mix of inspo, including Soul Bar, also in Auckland’s Viaduct, Non Solo Pizza, in Parnell, Casita Miro, in Waiheke, and, obviously, La Rumbla.
It’ll cater to between 80 and 100 for dining, plus bar seats and outdoor balconies — there are plans to extend the balcony overlooking Lake Whakatipu in a year or so, while the planned rooftop bar is a ‘‘longer-term project’’, Impey says.
Gruar says they’re planning to offer an all-day lunch, that goes till dinner, enabling people to settle in for an entire day.
Impey says it’ll be a bar and restaurant with a unique vibe which, in a way, is a symptom of the collaboration between the two operators.
Gruar: ‘‘It’s just a wonderful canvas to showcase our love for hospitality.’’
Meantime, inquiries about bookings or events for 2023 can be made by emailing either [email protected] or [email protected]
