Authentic Neapolitan pizza comes to Drapac's six-star green building on Carlton's Victoria Street

East Brunswick pizzeria 400 Gradi has leased space in Drapac group's refurbished former Carlton & United brewery laboratory site at 200Victoria Street in Carlton for a second eatery.

The office component of the building is leased by Victoria's Environment Protection Authority and in keeping with the role of its government tenant, is one of the most environmentally sustainable in Victoria with a coveted 6 star Green Star status awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia.

It also has a 5 star NABERS energy and 4.5 star water rating.

Drapac Group, founded by property developer Michael Drapac, acquired the building for $5.25 million in 2006 and refurbished and added two levels to it in 2009, with designs from architects Peddle Thorp.

The new pizzeria '90 Secondi' will operate from a 186 square metre ground floor shop.

The rent has not been disclosed but market rent is around $500 to $700 per square metre per annum.

The owner of 400 Grandi and 90 Secondi is Giovanni ''Johnny'' Di Francesco is one of only two Melbourne pizzaiolo’s to be internationally accredited to make authentic Neapolitan pizza.

“90 Secondi will be more a cafe pizzeria rather than a restaurant pizzeria - more modern and a little more casual,” Di Francesco said.

The lease was negotiated by CBRE retail services team of Zelman Ainsworth and Max Cookes.

"It was critical we found a café that complemented a building of this quality with a 6-star green star design and provided additional amenity to our current tenants – 90 Secondi fit this requirement perfectly,” Drapac’s Costa Alexiou said. 

The new pizzeria 90 Secondi has also committed to a lease at CBUS’s newest project at 700 Bourke Street, Docklands.

Recent leasing deals in trendy Carlton include  famed Italian cafe Brunetti relocated from its 27-year home at 194-204 Faraday Street, Carlton to its birthplace at 380 Lygon Street.  

“We have noticed a huge increase in the level of enquiry across all our retail leasing campaigns in both the CBD and suburban locations,” said Ainsworth.