Justin Hemmes to replace The Fish Shop at Potts Point with Lotus 2.0
The Fish Shop at Potts Point is closing its doors after seven years.
It's set to be replaced by Lotus 2.0, to be steered by chef Dan Hong, according to GoodFood.com.au.
The Fish Shop had been the venture of the late chef Jeremy Strode within the Merivale that has decided to launch a pop-up in the space instead.
Hong, who heads up the nearby Ms G's and Mr Wong in the city, was previously at the helm of Lotus when it originally opened in 2002 when the Hemmes family returned to the site they previously operated.
It ran for around six years.
The site was once Moran's, before owner Matt Moran moved on to Aria at Circular Quay.
It was then the restaurant Goldfinger before becoming Lotus.
The restaurant will be an updated version of the former Lotus restaurant.
Hong told GoodFood he remembers auditioning for the Lotus gig, creating 12 dishes in 45 minutes for Hemmes and other Merivale executives.
It will have the hot fudge sundae's he served on the day, as well as Lotus classics such as the tuna with sweet wasabi dressing.
The current space that has been home of popular The Fish Shop.
"The bar at the back is still there, it's [currently] covered in wood," Hong said.
Lotus 2.0 is likely to open in September and trade for up to a year, given the recent sale of the building.
The popular eatery sits within Wirrara, the Macleay Street building offloaded by Justin Hemmes.
It was bought for around $13 million by developer Tony Benjamin who "just wanted a trophy asset," according to selling agent Jason Boon.
Benjamin owns the two star Holiday Lodge Hotel a few doors down the heritage row.
Wirrara was one of the Hemmes family's longest held assets, having being bought by family patriarch, the late John Hemmes, for $1.428 million in 1988.
The building at 61-63 Macleay Street comprises The Fish Shop, Arida clothing retail outlet whose formal lease expires in August, and four apartments above that have been rented to Fish Shop staff.
The Fish Shop is set to close on June 16.
Restaurateur and chef Kylie Kwong is closing her Macleay Street restaurant Billy Kwong in the coming months.