I went to primary school in Box Hill and I reckon every kid in my year level had at least one party there at some point. It was absolutely elite, such a good layout with the multiple levels and little nooks and crannies.
Man I loved that place as a kid.
Even more as an adult. Feels like not even that long ago I was dancing my heart out on Bunswick St when the group said 'fuck this, let's go to lock-in at DarkZone'. Low and be hold, 45 minutes later we were playing unlimited games from like 10pm to 2am for something ridiculous, like $40 each.
Borders in Carlton existed for almost my entire 20s, the peak era of hanging out with friends in the city outside of uni hours, it was the best place to meet up. I'm glad Readings won out, but I'll always remember it fondly.
Just thinking of that walking down Chapel Street last night where it used to be. As overpriced as some of their stuff could be, was a great place to browse or have a coffee in.
Used to go to Borders Chaddy on a Saturday night, then at 10pm when it closed, to the Pancake Parlour next door for a late night supper to discuss our purchases. Living like millionaires back in the day!
Borders in Carlton was where I used to buy my arty movie DVDs when I was at uni. Spent SOOO much time in that store browsing before deciding on the one thing I could afford to buy that month. Rip.
Cuckoos in the Dandenongs! So many memories of their Bavarian buffet and the amazing live singing and entertainment.
Casualty of COVID unfortunately although their website says it’s under new ownership and reopening soon?
I grew up in the Dandenongs, and had friends that worked there. Apparently they brought back in bowls of soup from people’s tables and tipped them back into the main soup pot to re serve it later on, etc etc. lots of stories like this. I would never have eaten there
Not only COVID killed it. They had been dying for years. The German buffet had basically turned into cheap, stodge and rubbish attempts at Asian dishes to cater to the Chinese bus tours. COVID put it out of its misery. The dessert buffet remained good until the end at least.
My friend lives right there now in one of the townhouses and I always say “the ice cream machine was over there, the giant tree with the weird animatronics was there” it’s an odd feeling
I knew someone that nearly died because he was in the abandoned smorgys in Bundoora painting and arsonists came and set fire to it while he was inside . He only survived because he kicked out a wooden boards that was over a window
Agree.
I miss Daimaru.
I worked there for sometime in the Seasonal - Handbags and Scarves and International Shoes section, and the Oroton Concept area.
It really was handsdown the best retail experience to work in. The customer service training was really thorough they really invested in customer satisfaction.
I felt really genuinely taken care of as an employee.
The staff received buffets in the break room. It was very spacious and fellow staff were really great. People were overall really happy to work there.
The quality of goods and brands really was a level higher than DJ's. They had private buyers going to Europe every season to buy the upcoming new shoes, scarves, handbags.
As employees we received at least 25% off and even more on specific days.
I bought high end new season products for about 60% off RRP.
Loved the Boutique Chocolatiers and Japanese Bakery on the ground floor.
Loved working at Daimaru.
It really was 💖.
It gave me some experiencial insight of the powerful effects of great management from top down.
I think the business to employee to client approach was unique because it was coming from Japanese owned company where they had next level focus on the customer.
When employees truly feel valued within a company, with good pay- it continuously increased at least once a year, which was unusual in retail, there are amazing incentives, employees have better morale, have pride working at the place and customers will feel that. It was definitely a win-win approach.
It was something I was so happy to see in Tokyo. The Diamaru there is huge and has everything. We bought massive amounts of food there to make a "banquet" dinner one night. Bloody expensive but so so good.
Totally agree! Was so lovely and I couldn’t ever afford anything either. But I remember getting Christmas presents from there and that was very special.
Also, Sizzler was a vibe. And I’ll never not miss Metro nightclub. Lots of v fun times there 🪩
I used to work at the BWS that was behind the Courthouse Hotel, one day the guy who ran Olympic Donuts dropped by to buy something and left me a bag of donuts.
Super nice bloke.
Oh the old balcony part of Lounge! I lived off the Pay The Time prices during the semester. Then would just kick on there with cheap jugs and smoke lots of ciggies
Edit: oh and I’ll also add Red Silks.
Can it be a pub? Because The Great Britain in Richmond, place was amazing, op shop couches open fire in winter, dogs hanging about for pats, the best vibe still miss it :(
Many great memories from the GB. You used to order pizza at the bar and it would be delivered from the pizzeria across the road. Now it's $35 for a turkey schnitzel with shaved leek spears, probably
The Arthouse. Used to watch metal bands there on Friday nights in the early 2000s on my way home from my shitty Bourke St mall jewellery store job. I’d just moved to Melbourne and didn’t really know anyone else then and those Friday nights were the highlight of my week.
This so much. I was so thankful to finally play there (on a very quiet night with a pretty shitty band) after years of attending such good punk shows all my late teens and early adulthood
My crappy punk band used to play there in the mid 2000s. We played one night with a bunch of japanese guys. I remember one of them using one of those taiko drums. They were great! Every amp i used there had terrible hum. I think the power was seriously dodgy in that joint.
Still, it was better playing there than noise bar
King of Kings. A1. Dessert House. Shark Fin House Yum Cha. Old Dainty Sichuan. Dainty Noodles in Emporium. Chili Padi Melbourne Central. Go Noodle House. Niubi. Gomi Ramen. Chotto. OG Rockpool. GOLD LEAF Docklands. Pre-COVID Aka Siro. That jukebox burger place Chapel Street.
David Jones Food Hall. Hako Flinders Lane. Wonderbao RMIT. OG Kim Sing. Cup of Truth. Mr Burger and Market Lane Thierry Street Victoria Market. Queensberry Pour House.
Edit: Gold Leaf Docklands, not Golden Century. Also OG Rockpool = before it was sold.
omg my family’s business used to deliver chicken feet to shark fin house…so sad…we still deliver poultry to shark fin inn though..but damn..40kg of chicken feet all nails cut off by myself each week LMAO
Did you experience the middle aged waitress at King of Kings with the crazy hair and next to zero customer service? She was great! No fucking around. You got a table, no pleasantries, your food came out in about 2 mins and was practically thrown on the table. Big plate was like $5.50
Same here, used to go to the one in Southbank when I worked over on Dorcus St.
It was great being able to get a chicken curry and a can of coke for less than $10
Fuck just googled it. Smoke Dreams still open (downstairs closed) and Missing Link closed in 2011. They sited the drop in buying physical media. Maaaan. If they'd stayed open a couple years they would have been laughing during the retro record revival we are in.
The band tshirt and merch selection at Smoke Dreams was unbelievable. Spent so many hours in there at 14 years old flicking through the racks. I don't live in Melbourne anymore but massive shame to hear it's gone
RIP to Pony Bar, Ding Dong Lounge and Edelwiess Deli in Acland St. Id get a delicious sandwich and go eat it in the rooftop garden and pretend like I was in The Secret Life of Us
Only 90s goths will remember this: Mortisha's (that is the correct spelling) in the Royal Arcade. Man, I loved that place. They agreed to sell some of my art there and I was so proud of that because I thought Hilary who owned it was the coolest lady ever.
Not a restaurant but I loved all the factory outlets shopping on Smith Street, Collingwood. I'd spend the whole day shopping both sides of the street and got so many bargains, especially at Nike
Absolutely loved Cobb lane. The coffee that they had there, and the breakfast options too actually, were 10/10. I still go to the bakery for bread and croissants etc, but will forever miss the cafe that they had 😭
The Darrell Lea shop in the city. As a youngster it felt like I was entering Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - the bright colours, the smell - childhood memory unlocked.
The Haunted Bookshop I think it was called, was on McKillop street in the CBD. Closed in 2019 due to an issue with the rent and the shop owner didn’t want to move so just decided to finish up
Not sure if it's fully gone or just not anywhere that I go, but Mrs Field's Cookies – getting a double fudge cookie still warm from the oven was *the best*.
I’ve been living overseas for a few years so seeing all the familiar names in this thread makes me feel like every place I used to love in Melbourne has closed down.
There was a fairy shop or fairy book store back in the 90s . I remember there was a massive tree in the middle? And it was all dark and fairy like . It was in the middle of the city. I'm thinking near the Victorian market but I could be completely making that up. Haha
Mexicali Rose in Richmond had this chocolate taco dessert that I still dream of sometimes. It was a hard chocolate taco shell filled with chocolate cake and topped with hot chocolate sauce, with chocolate ice cream and whipped cream on the side. It was ridiculous and I wouldn't even be able to eat it anymore but God I wish they were still open
Charadas Cheesecakes (Brunswick, plus the last remaining store in Fitzroy)
Fraus (345 Victoria St, North Melbourne), the place that used to do crepes and thick hot chocolates.
Photo Plus (the purikura store on Bourke St).
The EB Games on Swanston St that specifically had the Nintendo 3DS museum upstairs.
I can't help but miss Lentils As Anything despite the ethical issues that shut it down... 🥲
And not technically a shop/restaurant but Event Cinemas on Russell St. That one used to be my favourite cinema.
The milk bar that used to be next to the northern exit of Ringwood Station. It closed years ago but they made the most astonishing hand cut potato cakes, NOT scallops - these were borderline wedding cakes with how much deliciously swirly fried batter was hanging off each uniquely cut potato slice. It shut down when Ringwood Station was renovated many years ago but I still have pleasant dreams about those potato cakes.
(Also, the store Metal for Melbourne was in Ringwood and it was fucking awesome)
Hobby Japan in midcity arcade, and La Porchetta on Rathdowne St. The food wasn't like, super awesome, but it was more the memories I have of the place, hanging with my mates and having just a great time together
Hard Rock Cafe, mostly because I had a few dates there early on with my now wife. She loved the Buffalo wings with blue cheese dipping sauce and I gotta say she wasn't wrong they were f@ckn good. Pretty decent burgers too.
There was, very briefly, a Cajun place on Elizabeth St across from what used to be Minotaur. Had amazing Po'boys. When it closed I was heartbroken. Now the Cajun place in Geelong is closed too.
I am begging people to tell me where to now get good Cajun food in Victoria. I will travel for it.
Heaven. I want to say it was upstairs where Rebel sports is/was at Bourke St Mall but it’s been awhile since I’ve gone to Bourke St so I don’t know if it’s still a Rebel store. They had the best kind of pop culture knickknacks, novelty T-shirts, gifts & ephemera. Not sure how relatable it would be to middle aged me of today, but tween me loved it so much back in the day.
Okay my faves for the memories lol
- chili’s in Doncaster
- Joe’s Garage in Fitzroy
- Smorgy’s in Bundoora
- Juanita’s in Fitzroy (best churro’s ever!)
- Kiss Pizza in Collingwood
- stokers pancakes in Ivanhoe
- daimaru in the CBD
- the teddy bear and doll hospital in Melbourne Central
GIHANS PLACE- Sydney road Brunswick.. Beautiful Turkish couple , named the resaurant after their daughter.. best Kebabs in the universe- back when you could get for $5 inc a can
This is going to sound sad and age me but Planet Hollywood. There also used to be a little pizza by the slice place on the lower level (closer to the restaurants and retail than the food court) that did a killer Margarita slice.
My only memory of sizzlers or any sizzler style thing was that place that's where Sofia's is now on Burwood highway. I can't remember the name but it was a buffet style.
Dad took us there for dinner service when he won a couple hundo on the slots or something as a treat.
Smorgys!
Somewhere in Caroline Springs, I can't remember specifically where it was, but there used to be this little corner store, on some random street, that was run by the loveliest Asian couple you have ever met.
Anyway, you'd step into this corner store, and you'd be instantly transported back to the early 2000s.
Lolly bags at $0.50 each, cans of drink for $1.50, bags of chips and general snacks for $3 or so dollars.
The most bloody delicious pies and sausage rolls you've ever had for under $5.
The only thing in their entire store that was even remotely marked up was the international snacks and drinks, but even then, they were far cheaper than what you would find them in an international snack specific store.
Used to go in there for lunch just about everyday when I drove delivery trucks for Coles. Drive past there one day, and yeah, they apparently sold the business and moved away. That was a genuinely shitty day.
Hy-Hy in Footscray
Hungarian kitchen in St Kilda
Polyester books on Brunswick st
And there used to be an awesome Sr Lankan grocery store In Broadmeadows that would serve takeaway curries.
Rip 😭😭😭
Blockbuster. As a kid, Friday night Maccas Happy Meal run with a rented game for the weekend was the best thing I looked forward to all week. Streaming is better functionality wise, but there was something about browsing that beautiful blue and yellow box that was beautiful. Except for the late fees.
Jazzies - going to the movies not the same!
The lost forests - both the OG 90’s version and the one that was at Docklands that closed over the time of lockdowns.
The Disney store and the WB store
Toys are US and Toy world
(P.s) I’m a nostalgic millennial
Flashback. Think it was on Russell Street way back in the mid 80's? Was a video game arcade and fast food joint. The food was decent and they had all the best and latest video games. Back then games only cost 20 cents so for as little as $5 you could get something to eat and still play plenty of games.
The Pizza Hut in Essendon, where you could get all you can eat. Just waiting like vultures for the good pizzas to come out instead of the veggie Supreme or whatever.
Blockbuster video. The 90’s and early 00’s were full of fond memories, going there on a Friday night spending half an hour picking a dvd to watch. It was an event.
Kind of a shop- Dark Zone Laser Tag in Box Hill
Hell yeah, they don’t design laser tag like that anymore. Multi level, big space, less people per game, the perfect mix
Closed? 😭
first time I’ve heard someone outside my own family talk about missing this place. I had so many parties there as a kid
Great place for a party. Same with sidetracked in Oakleigh
That's gone now too, it's an office furniture place. We loved that place as kids, it was honestly the most fun.
I went to primary school in Box Hill and I reckon every kid in my year level had at least one party there at some point. It was absolutely elite, such a good layout with the multiple levels and little nooks and crannies.
Man I loved that place as a kid. Even more as an adult. Feels like not even that long ago I was dancing my heart out on Bunswick St when the group said 'fuck this, let's go to lock-in at DarkZone'. Low and be hold, 45 minutes later we were playing unlimited games from like 10pm to 2am for something ridiculous, like $40 each.
Borders 😭
Collin’s bookstores
There's one in Moonee Ponds!
There’s still collins booksellers in regional areas.
Borders in Carlton existed for almost my entire 20s, the peak era of hanging out with friends in the city outside of uni hours, it was the best place to meet up. I'm glad Readings won out, but I'll always remember it fondly.
Fuck Borders was great. I read so much stuff for nothing!
Just thinking of that walking down Chapel Street last night where it used to be. As overpriced as some of their stuff could be, was a great place to browse or have a coffee in.
Used to go to Borders Chaddy on a Saturday night, then at 10pm when it closed, to the Pancake Parlour next door for a late night supper to discuss our purchases. Living like millionaires back in the day!
This was me too! I spent sooo much money at Borders over the years, no idea how’d they went broke.
Haha, meanwhile I was working at the Pancake Parlour then going to Borders afterwards!
I could also buy from there and not feel like I am enabling a cycle of abuse like a certain book store.
Borders in Carlton was where I used to buy my arty movie DVDs when I was at uni. Spent SOOO much time in that store browsing before deciding on the one thing I could afford to buy that month. Rip.
The one in Chadstone was awesome
Loved borders! Reading for hours on then then listening to a album was so much fun
The kiosks on the Flinders St station platforms.
They were great. Especially when coming home half tanked and you could get a few potato cakes to smash on the train home
Sth Yarra station used to have the best fkn potato cakes 🥔👌
It's a shame that there's only the one on platform 1 left.
At least there is one! I went there the other day for a potato cake. It was magical
Best place at Flinders St for Potato Cakes. There's 2 at Ringwood Station, one on the platform and the other in the old signal box out the front.
Mmmmm rubbery potato cakes and over fried dimmies. Yum! Smells like better times!
Haha! The treat in the potato cakes was in the crispy golden coating with a healthy shake of salt
Cuckoos in the Dandenongs! So many memories of their Bavarian buffet and the amazing live singing and entertainment. Casualty of COVID unfortunately although their website says it’s under new ownership and reopening soon?
I grew up in the Dandenongs, and had friends that worked there. Apparently they brought back in bowls of soup from people’s tables and tipped them back into the main soup pot to re serve it later on, etc etc. lots of stories like this. I would never have eaten there
Not only COVID killed it. They had been dying for years. The German buffet had basically turned into cheap, stodge and rubbish attempts at Asian dishes to cater to the Chinese bus tours. COVID put it out of its misery. The dessert buffet remained good until the end at least.
It’s for sale again so I wouldn’t hold your breath unfortunately
One time when I was there it snowed! Ok the snow was very scrappy but it blew my mind as a kid.
Polyester Books, Peril Underground and Gaslight Records.
Every time I walk past the Nando's that replaced Gaslight I shed a small tear.
All the 90s CBD record stores
Augogo Records too
Seconding Polyester Books. I bought all my gifts there
Calling thirds, Polyester opened my eyes to worlds I never dreamed existed.
Yes....Gaslight was awesome. Great lunch time hangout. Saw The Black Keys do an instore there one time.
Beatrix bakes.
Literally everything there was amazing, I haven't found anything close...
You should try Holy Sugar and Mietta, both amazing cake shops
The old Bimbos on Brunswick st, particularly mid to late 2000s with the 4 buck calamari pizza Pizzas still good until around 2015
That igloo thing was so fun to get munted in too.
Bimbo’s 😭😭
I loved Smorgy’s as a kid. Though I wonder whether it was really as good as I remember, or if it was shit food but I didn’t know any better.
I think you know the answer to this.
The hold Smorgy’s had on me as a child - the entertainment just added to the experience
It was great in that each one was themed. with the Burwood one like a Volcano, was abandoned for many years until it burned down.
My friend lives right there now in one of the townhouses and I always say “the ice cream machine was over there, the giant tree with the weird animatronics was there” it’s an odd feeling
I knew someone that nearly died because he was in the abandoned smorgys in Bundoora painting and arsonists came and set fire to it while he was inside . He only survived because he kicked out a wooden boards that was over a window
I still daydream about the donut machine
Diamaru. I could never afford anything but it felt so fancy pants!
Agree. I miss Daimaru. I worked there for sometime in the Seasonal - Handbags and Scarves and International Shoes section, and the Oroton Concept area. It really was handsdown the best retail experience to work in. The customer service training was really thorough they really invested in customer satisfaction. I felt really genuinely taken care of as an employee. The staff received buffets in the break room. It was very spacious and fellow staff were really great. People were overall really happy to work there. The quality of goods and brands really was a level higher than DJ's. They had private buyers going to Europe every season to buy the upcoming new shoes, scarves, handbags. As employees we received at least 25% off and even more on specific days. I bought high end new season products for about 60% off RRP. Loved the Boutique Chocolatiers and Japanese Bakery on the ground floor. Loved working at Daimaru.
what a wonderful environment to have worked in!
It really was 💖. It gave me some experiencial insight of the powerful effects of great management from top down. I think the business to employee to client approach was unique because it was coming from Japanese owned company where they had next level focus on the customer. When employees truly feel valued within a company, with good pay- it continuously increased at least once a year, which was unusual in retail, there are amazing incentives, employees have better morale, have pride working at the place and customers will feel that. It was definitely a win-win approach.
It was something I was so happy to see in Tokyo. The Diamaru there is huge and has everything. We bought massive amounts of food there to make a "banquet" dinner one night. Bloody expensive but so so good.
And the food court! On ground floor. The Okonomiyaki.
Omg completely forgotten about it! Sooo fancy! Lol
Totally agree! Was so lovely and I couldn’t ever afford anything either. But I remember getting Christmas presents from there and that was very special. Also, Sizzler was a vibe. And I’ll never not miss Metro nightclub. Lots of v fun times there 🪩
Definitely my most missed shop would be the Technical Book Shop, 295 Swanston St. Some of my best books come for there.
Oh yea, a must visit for my nerdy family
Brashs
I was looking for a bag at my Mum’s (Classic bag of bags in the laundry) and what did I uncover?! A tiny Brashs bag!
That’s a collectible!
Olympic Donuts - Footscray station IMO the OG of jam donuts covered in sugar.
With the dolphin shaped jam inserter!
I used to work at the BWS that was behind the Courthouse Hotel, one day the guy who ran Olympic Donuts dropped by to buy something and left me a bag of donuts. Super nice bloke.
Oh the old balcony part of Lounge! I lived off the Pay The Time prices during the semester. Then would just kick on there with cheap jugs and smoke lots of ciggies Edit: oh and I’ll also add Red Silks.
Can it be a pub? Because The Great Britain in Richmond, place was amazing, op shop couches open fire in winter, dogs hanging about for pats, the best vibe still miss it :(
The fact it got replaced by some generic as fuck bar makes it even worse.
Many great memories from the GB. You used to order pizza at the bar and it would be delivered from the pizzeria across the road. Now it's $35 for a turkey schnitzel with shaved leek spears, probably
The Gertrude for me, loved that place.
Trivia night there was the ducks nuts. Miss it so much
The GB was my local for me and my mates, spent most nights there. Harlow doesn’t even compare, I refuse to go in there. Fuck I miss the GB!
AU GO GO records. Special mention - GASLIGHT music.
Extra special mention for Missing Link!
The Arthouse. Used to watch metal bands there on Friday nights in the early 2000s on my way home from my shitty Bourke St mall jewellery store job. I’d just moved to Melbourne and didn’t really know anyone else then and those Friday nights were the highlight of my week.
This so much. I was so thankful to finally play there (on a very quiet night with a pretty shitty band) after years of attending such good punk shows all my late teens and early adulthood
My crappy punk band used to play there in the mid 2000s. We played one night with a bunch of japanese guys. I remember one of them using one of those taiko drums. They were great! Every amp i used there had terrible hum. I think the power was seriously dodgy in that joint. Still, it was better playing there than noise bar
The Arty was the best little venue. Saw so many bands, took so many photos. Some of the best memories.
King of Kings. A1. Dessert House. Shark Fin House Yum Cha. Old Dainty Sichuan. Dainty Noodles in Emporium. Chili Padi Melbourne Central. Go Noodle House. Niubi. Gomi Ramen. Chotto. OG Rockpool. GOLD LEAF Docklands. Pre-COVID Aka Siro. That jukebox burger place Chapel Street. David Jones Food Hall. Hako Flinders Lane. Wonderbao RMIT. OG Kim Sing. Cup of Truth. Mr Burger and Market Lane Thierry Street Victoria Market. Queensberry Pour House. Edit: Gold Leaf Docklands, not Golden Century. Also OG Rockpool = before it was sold.
omg my family’s business used to deliver chicken feet to shark fin house…so sad…we still deliver poultry to shark fin inn though..but damn..40kg of chicken feet all nails cut off by myself each week LMAO
Did you experience the middle aged waitress at King of Kings with the crazy hair and next to zero customer service? She was great! No fucking around. You got a table, no pleasantries, your food came out in about 2 mins and was practically thrown on the table. Big plate was like $5.50
The OG Don Dons on Swanston street. I know there are others but still miss the old one
I miss their old prices
Same here, used to go to the one in Southbank when I worked over on Dorcus St. It was great being able to get a chicken curry and a can of coke for less than $10
The downstairs basement shop for Smoke Dreams on Flinders St and Missing Link Records on Bourke.
Fuck just googled it. Smoke Dreams still open (downstairs closed) and Missing Link closed in 2011. They sited the drop in buying physical media. Maaaan. If they'd stayed open a couple years they would have been laughing during the retro record revival we are in.
I too dyed my hair black in the early 2000s.
The band tshirt and merch selection at Smoke Dreams was unbelievable. Spent so many hours in there at 14 years old flicking through the racks. I don't live in Melbourne anymore but massive shame to hear it's gone
In my late teens (late 90s), we used to visit Fast Eddy’s Cafe, Bourke Street. Another was Greasy Joes in St Kilda
RIP to Pony Bar, Ding Dong Lounge and Edelwiess Deli in Acland St. Id get a delicious sandwich and go eat it in the rooftop garden and pretend like I was in The Secret Life of Us
Massive Weiner's on Chapel St, Prahran
Only 90s goths will remember this: Mortisha's (that is the correct spelling) in the Royal Arcade. Man, I loved that place. They agreed to sell some of my art there and I was so proud of that because I thought Hilary who owned it was the coolest lady ever.
Not a restaurant but I loved all the factory outlets shopping on Smith Street, Collingwood. I'd spend the whole day shopping both sides of the street and got so many bargains, especially at Nike
Spicyfish. Used to be a restaurant in Chinatown that closed down after covid.
There was one in Glen Waverley as well, used to go there every weekend. It's gone now as well. 😑
Oh yes ‘Sizzler’ in the 90’s… there was a queue to get in! The cheese bread they tried to fill you up with! It’s was bad but I kinda loved it!
When my family went we always exclusively had the salad bar. Good times! Now I realise they also served steaks and other meats haha.
Punters Club
Someone up thread said Bimbos and I nearly cried.
Joes garage on Brunswick street
Was a fan of Sumo Salad back in the day. Also, those fairy-themed shops that were in almost every shopping centre in the 90s.
Mrs Parma's #rip
Absolutely loved Cobb lane. The coffee that they had there, and the breakfast options too actually, were 10/10. I still go to the bakery for bread and croissants etc, but will forever miss the cafe that they had 😭
The Keg - their decadent chocolate brownie dessert served with warm chocolate fudge sauce was divine!
and crumbed chicken tenders with honey mustard dipping sauce..
Polyester books.
‘Genki’ in the Nicholas bldg around 2007ish
The Darrell Lea shop in the city. As a youngster it felt like I was entering Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - the bright colours, the smell - childhood memory unlocked.
The Haunted Bookshop I think it was called, was on McKillop street in the CBD. Closed in 2019 due to an issue with the rent and the shop owner didn’t want to move so just decided to finish up
Peril, underground down a laneway off Elizabeth St near Flinders. Mortisha’s in Royal Arcade.
The Polish Rye bakery in Dandenong
St Jerome's behind Swanston st and the Japanese rice bowl shop next door circa 2007.
St Jerome’s was legendary.
Green With Envy when Bridge Road was in its prime!
Not sure if it's fully gone or just not anywhere that I go, but Mrs Field's Cookies – getting a double fudge cookie still warm from the oven was *the best*.
Thai Thai upstairs in Victoria Street Richmond. They had the best spring rolls ever, used to get a huge plate full for about $10?
As someone who used to work there, Virgin Megastore. There’s nothing like browsing through physical media. 🥲
Sushi Monger, The Causeway, CBD. Amazing sushi and rolls but have still yet to find a better Sukiyaki or Katsu Curry Chicken. 😥
The Lost Forest - I can still hear the sound effects!
Gaslight Records/missing link records/Borders Books-so many hours , so much $ spent over the years 🥲
Gametraders. Wish i told 2004 self to buy all the damn big box pc games.
Any Mom and Pop old style Milk Bar in the suburbs.
How did they all have the same smell? I miss that weird musty smell.
Rue Bebelon Sahara Both in the CBD
Rue Bebelon 💔
I’ve been living overseas for a few years so seeing all the familiar names in this thread makes me feel like every place I used to love in Melbourne has closed down.
Holly’s Restaurant in Kmart. Frog in the pond.
Mad Moose Pizza in Yarraville. Best creative pizzas!
Bi-lo
There was a fairy shop or fairy book store back in the 90s . I remember there was a massive tree in the middle? And it was all dark and fairy like . It was in the middle of the city. I'm thinking near the Victorian market but I could be completely making that up. Haha
After The Tears in Elsternwick. Loved that place 😪
Laksa Bar on Little Lon, across from Trunk. Also, Trunk!
Q bar on the corner of chapel and toorak. Those were some wild times.
San Antone restaurant that use to be in Crown. They even closed their insta recently so it's definitely over 😭
Mexicali Rose in Richmond had this chocolate taco dessert that I still dream of sometimes. It was a hard chocolate taco shell filled with chocolate cake and topped with hot chocolate sauce, with chocolate ice cream and whipped cream on the side. It was ridiculous and I wouldn't even be able to eat it anymore but God I wish they were still open
Victoria Gothic and Peril Underground RIP
The old Myers
Trigger Bros Surf Shop Chelsea
Soul Mama in St Kilda
HMV on Burke street
Charadas Cheesecakes (Brunswick, plus the last remaining store in Fitzroy) Fraus (345 Victoria St, North Melbourne), the place that used to do crepes and thick hot chocolates. Photo Plus (the purikura store on Bourke St). The EB Games on Swanston St that specifically had the Nintendo 3DS museum upstairs. I can't help but miss Lentils As Anything despite the ethical issues that shut it down... 🥲 And not technically a shop/restaurant but Event Cinemas on Russell St. That one used to be my favourite cinema.
A small Indian store between a cell phone repair store and 170 Russell. The vege samosas with lashings of mango chutney were to die for.
They moved to Victoria St a little before Covid. The old location was more convenient though, especially for a tasty hot snack.
The milk bar that used to be next to the northern exit of Ringwood Station. It closed years ago but they made the most astonishing hand cut potato cakes, NOT scallops - these were borderline wedding cakes with how much deliciously swirly fried batter was hanging off each uniquely cut potato slice. It shut down when Ringwood Station was renovated many years ago but I still have pleasant dreams about those potato cakes. (Also, the store Metal for Melbourne was in Ringwood and it was fucking awesome)
Frostbites on Chapel St, Mercury Lounge at Crown, Pizza Head at Crown
lol. I had a beer with Molly Meldrum at mercury lounge. Such a random night. He made me wear his hat for a bit
Penang coffee house - I still dream of their flaky roti paratha with curry sauce 😢
rosati's - the floors were unique and the vibe was great at one point anton's - kitten d'amor is a bit too femme to fill the gap
The local Milk Bar and getting those mixed lolly bags. Not many around.
Hobby Japan in midcity arcade, and La Porchetta on Rathdowne St. The food wasn't like, super awesome, but it was more the memories I have of the place, hanging with my mates and having just a great time together
Greater Union cinemas, Lumiere on Latrobe, Virgin Mega store on Bourke st. Books, cds, amazing chips and hotdog. Opened late.
Hard Rock Cafe, mostly because I had a few dates there early on with my now wife. She loved the Buffalo wings with blue cheese dipping sauce and I gotta say she wasn't wrong they were f@ckn good. Pretty decent burgers too.
Borders at the Jam Factory
The Swagman, really loved going there as a kid
There was, very briefly, a Cajun place on Elizabeth St across from what used to be Minotaur. Had amazing Po'boys. When it closed I was heartbroken. Now the Cajun place in Geelong is closed too. I am begging people to tell me where to now get good Cajun food in Victoria. I will travel for it.
Heaven. I want to say it was upstairs where Rebel sports is/was at Bourke St Mall but it’s been awhile since I’ve gone to Bourke St so I don’t know if it’s still a Rebel store. They had the best kind of pop culture knickknacks, novelty T-shirts, gifts & ephemera. Not sure how relatable it would be to middle aged me of today, but tween me loved it so much back in the day.
Lonestar,bell st
Izakaya den recently closed up, easily the best food in the city. Devastated.
Okay my faves for the memories lol - chili’s in Doncaster - Joe’s Garage in Fitzroy - Smorgy’s in Bundoora - Juanita’s in Fitzroy (best churro’s ever!) - Kiss Pizza in Collingwood - stokers pancakes in Ivanhoe - daimaru in the CBD - the teddy bear and doll hospital in Melbourne Central
Al Albero pizza in North Fitzroy, damn that crazy mofo made the best pizza
GIHANS PLACE- Sydney road Brunswick.. Beautiful Turkish couple , named the resaurant after their daughter.. best Kebabs in the universe- back when you could get for $5 inc a can
I love Lone Star and crushing peanuts on the ground
Video Dogs in Carlton
Laurie Dee’s Burgers Epping Plaza
Pepperoni’s on Elizabeth St. That place saved me so many times
This is going to sound sad and age me but Planet Hollywood. There also used to be a little pizza by the slice place on the lower level (closer to the restaurants and retail than the food court) that did a killer Margarita slice.
Central station records on Swanston st
Don Don at Melbourne Central 😭💔
My only memory of sizzlers or any sizzler style thing was that place that's where Sofia's is now on Burwood highway. I can't remember the name but it was a buffet style. Dad took us there for dinner service when he won a couple hundo on the slots or something as a treat. Smorgys!
Somewhere in Caroline Springs, I can't remember specifically where it was, but there used to be this little corner store, on some random street, that was run by the loveliest Asian couple you have ever met. Anyway, you'd step into this corner store, and you'd be instantly transported back to the early 2000s. Lolly bags at $0.50 each, cans of drink for $1.50, bags of chips and general snacks for $3 or so dollars. The most bloody delicious pies and sausage rolls you've ever had for under $5. The only thing in their entire store that was even remotely marked up was the international snacks and drinks, but even then, they were far cheaper than what you would find them in an international snack specific store. Used to go in there for lunch just about everyday when I drove delivery trucks for Coles. Drive past there one day, and yeah, they apparently sold the business and moved away. That was a genuinely shitty day.
Fast Eddies - Bourke st. Red Rock Noodle Bar - Acland st, St Kilda Denny’s - next to Channel 10 in Forest Hill
Jimmy Wong’s Footscray.
Fast Eddy’s on Bourke Street. Best place to finish a big night out.
Hy-Hy in Footscray Hungarian kitchen in St Kilda Polyester books on Brunswick st And there used to be an awesome Sr Lankan grocery store In Broadmeadows that would serve takeaway curries. Rip 😭😭😭
Metal for Melbourne on Flinders St.
Central station records. HMV. Second spin on Swanston st. Roxanne parlour. Honkytonks. Pony bar. New geurnica when it was in the city. Lounge bar.
Blockbuster. As a kid, Friday night Maccas Happy Meal run with a rented game for the weekend was the best thing I looked forward to all week. Streaming is better functionality wise, but there was something about browsing that beautiful blue and yellow box that was beautiful. Except for the late fees.
What's new, Carribean market, and Smorgys!
Jazzies - going to the movies not the same! The lost forests - both the OG 90’s version and the one that was at Docklands that closed over the time of lockdowns. The Disney store and the WB store Toys are US and Toy world (P.s) I’m a nostalgic millennial
Joseph on Little Collins St and Alice Euphemia Flinders Lane - best women’s clothing shops! Joseph shut in the mid 2000s and Alice I’m not sure.
Alice Euphemia - such a loss! Also miss the GPO being a hub for lots of Aussie labels!
All you can eat at the swagman
Enoteca
Flashback. Think it was on Russell Street way back in the mid 80's? Was a video game arcade and fast food joint. The food was decent and they had all the best and latest video games. Back then games only cost 20 cents so for as little as $5 you could get something to eat and still play plenty of games.
Rob's Carousel The original Smoke Dreams
Golden Orchids in Chinatown
Falafel Extra on Acland. Their price per plate and fill it yourself deal was amazing.
Cafe Baloo in Russell St. Had my first biryani there.
The Cuckoo Restaurant!
The Pizza Hut in Essendon, where you could get all you can eat. Just waiting like vultures for the good pizzas to come out instead of the veggie Supreme or whatever.
Are Schwab’s Swiss still around? I smashed countless schnitzel sandwiches from Schwabs during the nineties in the CBD.
Augogo
Blockbuster video. The 90’s and early 00’s were full of fond memories, going there on a Friday night spending half an hour picking a dvd to watch. It was an event.