Pendolino threatens action over The Rocks development

Sydney restaurateur Nino Zoccali is threatening to unleash the lawyers following a stoush with developers of a $32 million redevelopment in The Rocks. 

Zoccali’s restaurant group Pendolino was slated to open new Italian 140-seat restaurant Venetian Republic at the end of this year at the redeveloped Campbell's Stores. However, Zoccali saw his vision scuppered after a dispute over the lease, telling The Sydney Morning Herald he had been "knee-capped by property developers". 

Zoccali was to be the key tenant in the historic Sydney landmark, and says he spent around $1 million on promotional campaigns and a cook-book deal, as well as three visits to Venice to research the restaurant's concept over the past seven months. 

Zocalli is threatening to bring legal action against the developer, claiming Tallawoladah used his reputation as one of Sydney's best restaurateurs to attract other tenants and "deceptively led us down the garden path". Other hospitality tenants include Seagrass Boutique Hospitality, which will open a high-end steakhouse called 6 Head 1788 at the site. Pacific Club Bondi Beach owner Matt Williams is also suggested to be a possible tenant.

“We believe we were profoundly misled and continuously deceived by the developers, who in our opinion, have blatantly breached key terms of the lease agreements, forcing our hand in terminating what was to be an exciting and well-needed addition to Sydney’s hospitality and tourism sector," Zoccali told The Sydney Morning Herald. 

"The project was positioned as a massive coup for Tallawoladah, who under the state government’s eye, had promised to deliver an incredible opportunity for small businesses like ours, but instead it looks like they’ve deceptively led us down the garden path, and used us to secure key project finance and as a core sales pitch for their leasing strategy."

Sheridan Randall, 29^th August 2018