Former La Luna restaurant building listed for sale
The iconic building that housed celebrity chef Adrian Richardson's La Luna restaurant for 26 years has been placed on the market, with expectations exceeding $1.8 million.
The double-storey property, located at 320 Rathdowne Street in Melbourne suburb Carlton North, was home to the acclaimed bistro until its closure last year. Richardson, known for his long-running stint on Channel 10's "Good Chef Bad Chef" from 2011 to 2023, opted to close the restaurant to pursue other ventures.
Richardson has made several television appearances, including co-hosting "Boys Weekend" with fellow chefs Manu Feildel, Gary Mehigan, and Miguel Maestre, as well as guest spots on "MasterChef Australia" and "Iron Chef America." His current ventures include Brunswick East's Bouvier Bar, Marvel Stadium's Gallery Restaurant, and Geelong steakhouse Maestro.
The chef has also been known for his outspoken views on food. In 2015, he publicly responded to criticism from "tofu-munching food extremists" after being labelled a "murderer" at a Melbourne food forum. Richardson alleged that "the Green Left" had targeted him for his focus on cooking meat.
The sale of the Rathdowne Street property presents a unique opportunity for prospective buyers to acquire a building with a rich culinary history.
“There are a bunch of food terrorists out there. I get death threats. They tell me I’m a murderer,” he said at the time.
The Rathdowne Street property boasts a restaurant permit for 110 patrons. It is currently under the management of real estate agencies Fitzroys and MP Burke Commercial. Shane Mills of Fitzroys and Pat Burke of MP Burke Commercial, alongside Fitzroys' James Lockwood, are overseeing the sale.
The listing follows reports that several Richardson's Queensland restaurant ventures, operating through a separate entity, were forced to strike deals with creditors last year after amassing nearly $1 million in debt.
"This is a landmark Rathdowne Village corner location," Mills said.
Burke highlighted the 270sq m building's residential one zoning, suggesting a range of possibilities for potential buyers. "It could be converted into a combined business and home, or simply a home," he said.
Notably, the site has remained under the same ownership for 37 years, adding to its historical significance. The sale comes amid ongoing discussions about the pressures facing the hospitality sector, and the fluctuating fortunes of restaurant businesses.
“It could be that someone says, ‘You know what, I love the Village and want to be that close to it,’ and buys it to convert to a residence,” Burke said.
However, he said that with a kitchen still in place, opening a new hospitality venture at the address would be a “walk up start”.
The auction will take place at midday on March 20.
Jonathan Jackson, 3rd March 2025
