From the outside looking in, the entrepreneurs behind Light Years Asian Diner saw Newcastle as the perfect city for expansion.
James Sutherland, Kim Stephen and chef Robbie Oijvall have combined their talents to bring a new life to the location at 7 Darby Street, which will open on Wednesday, December 15.
The venue will be open from 5pm Wednesdays through Sundays. The plan is to expand to seven nights a week and add lunch hours in the new year.
Their formula began with the first Light Years, opened in Byron Bay in 2017.
They've successful expanded the concept - original Asian fusion food and cocktails in an fun atmosphere with toe-tapping funk and disco, and top service - to Noosa and Burleigh Heads in Queensland.
Newcastle is the next stop as they look to expand along the eastern seaboard.
"Newcastle is going through a huge gentrification," Sutherland said, who is the general manager. "It is underrepresented in the area we are in. It seems like a good opportunity to us."
The venue will seat 140 in the main restaurant, and hold up to 80 in the upstairs function space, Shelly's, which will open next year.
What will diners think?
Creative director Kim Stephen said he hopes the reaction is: "'That was different, in a good way. I've not experienced that before. That was new. I'm excited to return.'"
Sutherland said success will depend on quality food and drink: the customers' reaction must be 'that's amazing.'
"You can have a pretty venue, but if you don't walk the walk or talk the talk, then you're in trouble," he said.
