Revealed: Leo Molloy’s grand plans, opening date for brand new HeadQuarters on Auckland’s Viaduct

Hospitality large and former Auckland mayoral candidate Leo Molloy has revealed the opening date for his new HeadQuarters institution, in addition to his grand plans for revolutionising the town’s viaduct scene.

Talking with the Herald, Molloy mentioned HeadQuarters Viaduct might be opening its doorways on January 25 on the previous O’Hagan’s Irish Pub on Customs St West.

Molloy mentioned the brand new HeadQuarters will tackle an “evolution” from the previous restaurant and guarantees it is going to be extra fashionable.

“We’re making an attempt to fill a distinct segment available in the market,” he mentioned.

“Clearly Soul [Bar and Bistro] has a distinct segment. Bivacco [Italian restaurant] has a distinct segment. There are another locations within the Viaduct that do good alcohol-driven operations, akin to Danny Doolan’s and Foxes is an efficient sports activities bar, Dr Rudis and [Saint] Alice are well-known for what they’re good for, nice views and good premises. However we predict there is a chance to seize the market between Soul and Bivacco. We sit proper within the center.”

The previous HQ was a pop-up, Molloy mentioned, and he was reluctant to spend vital cash on it.

“Within the new occasion, as a result of we personal the constructing and might be right here endlessly, we’re not afraid to open the pockets and have a crack.

“It is going to be much more upmarket and trendy in comparison with the previous one. There might be a major music part nevertheless it received’t be thump-thump bass music. We’re taking a reasonably aggressive place.”

The at-times controversial businessman revealed he and his three enterprise companions now personal an enclave of institutions an arm’s size away from one another, wanting it to be the guts of the viaduct.

Molloy, who owns 50 per cent, and his three enterprise companions, who he says personal the opposite 50 per cent of the brand new HeadQuarters, are renovating the institution and creating a brand new fit-out and ground plan.

“[The new HQ] is wrapped into the opposite outlet [Little HQ] which is an arm’s attain, and we’ve simply acquired the dairy so we’ve three there within the enclave,” Molloy informed the Herald.

“It’s unclear precisely what form it’s going to take however two might be for hospitality. One might be a mainstream bar with a very good meals part and the opposite might be for features and occasions which has a capability of 75 folks. That might be Little HQ.”

The previous Danny Doolans proprietor defined whereas the previous HeadQuarters was a raging success, the plan is to make it extra fashionable.

The double-storeyed constructing will present loads of capability for HeadQuarters, with Molloy saying they’re taking out the O’Hagan’s spiral stairwell and creating more room upstairs.

Whereas paying tribute to different viaduct hospitality institutions, Molloy mentioned he isn’t excited by competing with rivals, however he firmly has eyes on turning into the primary go-to vacation spot on the viaduct.

So what might be HeadQuarters’ level of distinction? Molloy says the structure of HeadQuarters might be inviting however that they plan to be the primary place folks consider when they need meals after 10pm.

“It’s an enormous rearrangement. That they had a spiral staircase proper within the center that divided the room. It was a unprecedented design however I don’t perceive what they have been considering. We’ve shifted the stairwell and opened all the mezzanine ground up prime… We’ve doubled the capability and we’ve spent some severe cash on the women’ bogs.

“I don’t need to compete with Bivacco or Soul primarily based on worth level or high quality as a result of they’re tilting on the fine-dining aspect, however I need to do good trustworthy pub meals.

“I do a unique type of meals. I take advantage of absolute premium cuts, I do substantial-style meals. Pub meals however I have a tendency to make use of the perfect cuts and fish, and I put in a very good hotline.

“I additionally need to be the primary participant on the town with regards to after 10pm. Folks on the p*** say ‘go to the White Woman for a burger’, and I really like the White Woman myself, however I need to be ‘that man’ the place folks say ‘let’s go to HQ’ as a result of they’ve full-time meals on.

“Each different restaurant on the town closes their most important kitchen menu at 9pm as a result of wages are getting uncontrolled. I need to fill that chance and have workers on proper till 2am and make the very best doner kebab that you simply’ll discover. I need to be that man.”

The transfer comes after Molloy closed the unique HeadQuarters that immediately overlooks the harbour in Could.

Headquarters was established as a short lived restaurant and bar on its present web site in 2016 on a short-term lease that was prolonged till earlier this yr.

It was initially erected as a central Viaduct venue for the Lions’ Tour and subsequently went on to host a plethora of Viaduct occasions, together with two America’s Cup celebrations.