The Establishment returns to Courtenay Place

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

The Establishment restaurant and bar will be returning to Courtenay Place at the same location, but under new ownership. (file)

A Courtenay Place institution is set to return, while a beloved coffee shop has shut its doors ahead of an upcoming move.

The Establishment Bar is set to return, with new owner Mike Drummond saying the bar will open in its previous location at the intersection of Blair St and Courtenay Place.

The bar was considered one of the capital’s most high risk venues, alleged by the police to have experienced more than 100 incidents in the four years it was open.

The venue closed in early 2022 after then-owner Andrew Gibson failed to get its liquor licence renewed.

SugarWoods Bar, owned by Jose Ubiaga, opened in the same location, but went into liquidation earlier this year, with declining foot traffic and the general economic downturn blamed in the liquidators’ report.

Emporio Cafe and Roastery has closed its Abel Smith St store, ahead of a move to Victoria St in February.

Ubiaga declined to comment for this article.

Wellington coffee institution Emporio is also due for a change, with a Mojo spokesperson confirming the café and roastery had closed its doors at its Abel Smith St site.

Emporio will move to Shed 13 on Customhouse Quay, which housed the Mojo roastery, the spokesperson said.

He said Emporio’s café would reopen at 135 Victoria St in February.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said Jose Ubiaga was the owner of The Establishment when it closed in early 2022.