Woolworths sushi bar

The Preston Woolworths on Murray Road has a reputation for taking a sober, measured, conservative approach to retailing innovation. Self-service check-outs? No thanks. Electronic store directories? We'd rather not. Robot shopping assistants? Not on our watch!

But in a recent departure from this trend, its managers have thrown caution to the wind and donated some precious floorspace to accommodate Sushi Izu: a "new sushi bar concept" that promises to be "like you've never seen or tasted before".

The Sushi Izu site is still shrouded in secrecy and hoarding. We hope that Woolworths can deliver on its "opening soon" promise sooner than the Hot Rocks people (nine months and counting).

A Google search showed that "Sushi Izu" was trademarked last year in Australia by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation: a California-based sushi bar franchise that offers fresh sushi and other Japanese food through outlets at supermarkets in the US and Canada. The product range on the AFC Corp website appears to comprise pre-packaged sushi and sashimi, drizzled artfully with condiments.

Red Bean Coffee

A tip-off from a local correspondent led the CPL Newsline senior editorial team to 121 Plenty Road in Preston, where the Red Bean Coffee cafe and coffee roasting emporium has just opened.

The design of the site is very interesting: a high-ceilinged brick factory/warehouse that contains several enclosed rooms (coffee roasting room, food preparation area and bathrooms) but with most seating located in the greater open warehouse space.

The overall effect is a sort of pleasant blurring between inside and outside. The photos here don't adequately convey the scale of the space; a visit is highly recommended.

There are two large shared tables, and seating arrangements seem to be quite flexible, with tables added or taken away as required.

The coffee is roasted on premises and is easily among the best in the area. The CPL Newsline senior editorial team were particularly impressed with the depth of flavour in the latte and its rich dense caramel-coloured milk foam.

The food menu is straightforward and doesn't contain any surprises. Hopefully it will evolve as Red Bean Coffee establishes itself. Having not ordered any food, CPL Newsline is unable to offer readers any insight into the quality of the food or associated service, but invites any comments on this topic.

Red Bean Coffee: yet another reason why you never need to leave Central Preston ever again.

Central Preston on its way up

The Manhattan end of High Street continues to sprout new vertical communities, with the development on the north-west corner of High Street and Miller Street now taking shape in all its pre-cast concrete glory.

But for those who bemoan that the pleasures of elevated living will never spread north of Murray Road, fear not. CPL Newsline can reveal that the very heart of Central Preston is shortly to enjoy significant new growth - skyward!

First, the planning permit to redevelop the second-hand floor warehouse adjacent to the Woolworths carpark has evidently been approved, as construction is soon to begin on an eight-storey apartment building.

When CPL Newsline first reported on the planning permit application 18 months ago, we noted with excitement that European features such as basement parking would be part of the building. We are incredibly pleased to see that the European theme has carried through to the apartment name, Casabella, which is both evocative and original. Make sure you visit the Casabella website to take in the artist's impression of what is sure to meet the promise of being a new landmark, a new lifestyle.

Second, CPL Newsline recently discovered this planning permit affixed to the Evenair shopfront at 482 High Street (just opposite the Jam Hut music emporium).

Obviously five storeys of lovingly constructed architectural beauty is exactly what's needed to challenge the status quo and reinvigorate this tired old two-storey-and-under section of High Street.

Central Preston: you can't stop the progress (and why would you want to?)

Little Henri is a big addition to Central Preston

Little Henri opened in late 2012 at the corner of High Street and Dundas Street, technically in Thornbury and  therefore arguably outside the geographical confines of Central Preston. However given that it sits across the road from Central Preston's Manhattan Triangle, the editorial team agreed it is an appropriate venue for CPL Newsline to cover.

Inside, Little Henri is spacious and has a clean-lined industrial aesthetic. Little Henri is incredibly popular; the photo below is an extremely rare shot of the interior without any patrons in view and was taken well before 9.00am. When the photographer left the space was already at least half full.

There is an outdoor area with a beautiful wall of hanging pot plants.

The menu is varied and spans both breakfast and lunch. When planning a visit keep in mind that most of the lunch menu items are not available until midday. The coffee is excellent.

The CPL Newsline editorial team tried the smashed avocado and the zucchini fritters. The smashed avocado was delicious; the avocado and fetta combined with lemony creamy salty joy, and the serving was generous particularly when compared to many cafes further south towards Northcote.

When ordering the zucchini fritters, a request to substitute bacon instead of the house smoked salmon was met with some alarm, as apparently the chef doesn't like patrons messing with the menu items. But bacon was delivered all the same, and the dish was very tasty. The horseradish cream was a particularly enjoyable touch.

The CPL Newsline editorial team has not yet sampled any dishes from the lunch menu, but has been assured by regular patrons that the pork belly baguette is a stand-out on the very strong menu.

Mendip Road cafe coming soon

As Mr Rubicon revealed exclusively in CPL Newsline recently, the former Iche Cuts 'n' Colours hairdressing boutique on Mendip Road is being converted into a restaurant or cafe. A loss of a salon de beaute in Central Preston and surrounds is always keenly felt by the local community, but hopefully good coffee and food will get us all through the hard times.

CPL Newsline's reporters made extensive inquiries with local business identities (ie one of the milkbar owners) and were unable to learn anything definite about the planned venue, other than it might be a cafe and it might be opening soon.

We promise to be the first and best source of any new information as it comes to light.

Uggsactly what you need

The section of High Street stretching south from Murray Road is rapidly gaining an enviable reputation as Melbourne's new epicentre for Ugg Boot commerce.

Tagged on the end of Preston's automotive Golden Mile, this Furry Furlong is leading the latest surge in the local economy.

Central Retail Association of Preston figures show an 87% increase in Ugg-related trade during the latest reporting period.

Central Preston: where the only thing warmer than our feet is our hearts.

Hope springs eternal in High Street Central

Yes, Central Preston can disappoint. The recent Saigon Chill-Lax episode, wherein the promise of home-made ice cream morphed cruelly into a cafe lounge then finally a nail salon, is exemplary in this respect.

But Central Preston can also thrill and excite, as the CPL Newsline editorial team were reminded when they walked down High Street this morning and discovered a new restaurant about to open, trumpeting a "unique dining concept" for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A Google search for "hot rock dining" suggests that the unique dining concept might involve serving food on, um, hot rocks, that the customer uses to cook the food. Kind of like Old Street Grill but with rocks instead of butane stoves. We will be sure to report as soon as more information comes to hand.