Chadstone – The Fashion Capital welcomes the very first visitors to its brand-new entertainment and dining precinct – The Social Quarter.

The $70 million project spanning more than 10,350m2 of new area accommodates a collection of 17 entertainment and sophisticated dining experiences. The vibrant, ‘all seasons playground’ setting has been designed to suit any occasion, whether it be a date night, an after-work catch-up or a mid-week family celebration.

Hosted by TV personality Rebecca Maddern, official opening formalities culminated in a ribbon cutting by Chadstone co-owner Mr John Gandel AC, Mayor of Stonnington Cr Jamie Klisaris, and Vicinity Centres CEO Peter Huddle. Attendees were delighted by a variety of roving performers including a brass band, jugglers, and stilt walkers.

Chadstone Centre Manager Daniel Boyle said, “We are immensely proud to open something unique to Chadstone, The Social Quarter. With the breadth of entertainment and dining options on offer, you’ll find entertainment options galore and dining to suit every taste in this first-of-its-kind precinct.”

The Social Quarter at Chadstone opened to the public at 1:30pm on Wednesday 1 March, and welcomed five new dining retailers: Cityfields, Piccolina Gelateria, White + Wong’s featuring their rooftop Sardine Bar, and UA Brewing Co. which boasts an onsite brewery producing sustainable craft beer exclusively for The Social Quarter.

The Social Quarter’s new dining offering is complemented by existing favourites: Betty’s Burgers, Marae Izakaya, TGI Fridays, New Shanghai, Mama’s Buoi, Fonda, and Cinque Terre: the Ligurian-inspired restaurant from restauranteur David Mackintosh, which opened in December 2022.

Four new entertainment brands from Funlab – Archie Brothers, Strike Bowling, Holey Moley and Victoria’s first Hijinx Hotel – will complement the new restaurants as well as Chadstone’s LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and HOYTS 13 screen cinema complex.

“We’re excited to be able to welcome visitors to enjoy high-end restaurants with spectacular views across Melbourne to the CBD. The Social Quarter is a place where, no matter your age, the hour of the day, or the time of the year, people will be able to gather for any occasion or celebration,” Boyle added.

The Social Quarter will be open until late every day, cementing Chadstone as a destination for domestic and international visitors less than 17 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD.

About The Social Quarter:

• The newly built entertainment and dining precinct adds approximately 6,400m2 of GLA to Chadstone – The Fashion Capital
• The Social Quarter created 250 new jobs during construction and more than 370 ongoing jobs now open
• The Social Quarter is located below HOYTS and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and will be serviced by an all-new iconic arrival and entry moment due for completion in April 2023
• The precinct was designed in collaboration with leading architects Jackson Clements Burrows (JCB), Buchan, Decibel and Lat Studios and builders, Hacer
• The new integrated urban artwork facade by commissioned artist Matthew Johnson on the existing Car Park B is the latest investment in the centre’s extensive art collection as part of Vicinity Centre’s ongoing commitment to Australian Art and the continued development of the Chadstone Art Collection
• With Chadstone’s office occupancy at 100%, the entertainment and dining offering is anticipated to be well utilised by the growing onsite workforce. More broadly, this precinct’s unique offer will be near to home for the 850,000 workers residing in Melbourne’s southeast’
• Chadstone’s new entertainment and dining precinct features climate control provided by a distinct louvred roof made up of 468 individually glazed pieces
• The precinct has 199KW Solar Photovoltaic (PV). PV materials and devices convert sunlight into electrical energy
• The new build will improve the precinct’s building energy performance by more than 30%, and targets the new 5 Star Green Star Rating
• With the opening of The Social Quarter, and the $485 million ongoing development of a 20,000m2 revitalised fresh food precinct, The Market Pavilion, F&B tenancies will comprise 7.7% of Chadstone’s total GLA by 2024.