Miss Chow’s team to revive Claremont premises left vacant for more than a decade with new Lygon Lane venue

The hospitality powerhouse behind popular Asian eatery Miss Chow’s is set to inject new life into a Claremont storefront which has sat empty for more than a decade. Miss Chow’s owner and founder Jacquie Chan has taken on 35-37 Bay View Terrace in Claremont with plans to open a new restaurant Lygon Lane in early October. Like the name suggests, Lygon Lane has been inspired by Melbourne’s famous Lygon Street which is lined with alfresco Italian restaurants. The menu promises dishes that are Italian with an Asian flair. Joining Miss Chow’s at Claremont Quarter, Ms Chan said the focus for Lygon Lane was on creating a space where guests could enjoy their meal in the open air surrounded by “beautiful greenery and streetscapes”. “We see this as an exciting opportunity to create a vibrant and welcoming venue that not only helps to rejuvenate Bay View Terrace but attracts more people to Claremont generally,” she said. “We would love for Lygon Lane and the area surrounding to be an inclusive and dynamic space that attracts locals and visitors, injects energy into the space, encourages neighbouring businesses to thrive and is a source of pride for the local community. “This is an opportunity to create a safer, more vibrant and more communal neighbourhood.” Claremont council on Tuesday agreed to fund a $180,000 parklet outside Lygon Lane in a bid to activate the southern end of Bay View Terrace and contribute nearly 30 more seats. It’s the first time the council has funded a permanent alfresco area of this kind and should help give the new offering a nod to Melbourne’s famous Italian district of Lygon Street. Ms Chan said the parklet would help create a more vibrant community space. “Parklets help to create the hustle and bustle and liveliness for those driving and walking past the area and makes the town appear more welcoming and inviting by encouraging community engagement, which is exactly what we want to provide in the town of Claremont,” she said. “Parklets also encourage a greener community by allowing guests to stop by on their daily walk with their furry friends or as a pit stop for cyclists on their journey through town.” Cr Kate Main said at Tuesday’s meeting it was great to hear the alfresco area would remain open while the venue was closed. “Our community are calling out for ways to encourage a vibrant town and I think this will be part of its heart,” she said. Cr Peter Edwards said he looked forward to the new business encouraging extra foot traffic through the area which could flow to surrounding businesses. “Since it has sat vacant for so long it has become a bit of a problem for the town and its reactivation should certainly accelerate hopefully a new birth, if you like, for the south of Bay View Terrace,” he said.