Bar Bene has been at Grosvenor Place for over 20 years. That is such a milestone. It is a fond farewell we are wishing them as they head to retirement and we know a few tears will be shed among their loyal and long-term friends and customers. The team, Ted and Gary have been very heartfelt in their gratitude to the Grosvenor Place customers who have ensured two decades of colourful antics, profound moments and lots of laughs all swished down with classic coffee and customer service. “Our experience has shown that coffee and a chat is an integral part of many people’s morning, this has been the case in all the years we have been in business.”
They singled out a few highlights for us.
“The Olympic Games, Australia playing Italy in the soccer World Cup and Australia playing England in the Rugby World Cup all created a huge buzz at the bar with lots of celebrations and friendly rivalry as both supporters and shop staff decked out in their respective team colours,” says Gaz
Olympic Games screening in Grosvenor Place.
But his most memorable moment on the floor was September 11 as the World Trade Centre attacks unfolded. “We had many brokers and also the Futures Exchange in the complex and it was a horrible day as many of them had friends and associates in the Trade Centre. Customers were coming down in droves and in tears just wanting to hang out. We were really humbled to offer support for so many of them.”
The Bar Bene team has been a host spot to the sense of community that is Grosvenor Place for so long they have established many cherished relationships from the noughties when the obligatory brokers long lunch generated a lot of colourful afternoons and laughs to the transition now to more time poor yet more sustainably minded customers still enjoying “coffee culture”.
A few among too many special mentions included Bill from Qualtrics, with his favourite ‘heart attack’ toastie (4 serves of ham, 3 serves of cheese and 2 serves of tomatoes), who is always up for a ribbing and a laugh. And then there is Deloitte CEO Richard and CFO Andrew billed by the Bar Bene team as “two of the nicest people we could ever meet”.
And they reserved further praise for the Grosvenor Place management team and their great relationship, always being available, engaged, and willing to help.
Gaz says the grandeur of the location in the Grosvenor Place Lobby has always been appreciated, after the early days when Bar Bene was situated upstairs in the vagaries of the elements with only a glass roof before the upper lobby was enclosed.
Bar Bene, circa 2007.
“The Lower Lobby area and the seating and the magnificent circular carpets are all very impressive.”
But it is the planned new works in the Lobby that have brought forward the Bar Bene departure, hurried along by the COVID-19 downturn.
“It has been disappointing to leave without an opportunity to say farewell to our wonderful customers, but it would seem that COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. So, we are pleased to be going now, reducing our exposure while the pandemic persists. We have had a great partnerships and friendship – it’s been a blast.
“To all of our customers we wish them every success and thank them for their loyalty and support. We know many of them will miss us as much as we will miss them.”