By Matthew Sims
Franco Cozzo’s iconic Footscray store would be transformed into a three-storey Moon Dog brewery and bar featuring a water fountain, if plans with Maribyrnong council are approved.
Moon Dog Brewery is proposing to transform the Hopkins Street building into a brewery with a DJ booth and rooftop bar, but has committed to paying tribute to the furniture king.
Moon Dog co-founder Karl van Buuren said he and his team were “really excited” to realise their dreams for the site.
“The building is such an iconic piece of Melbourne’s heritage and history,” he said.
“We’re also looking at keeping the original furniture for people have a sit.
“It will also be a three-storey venue with a rooftop bar, so there will be good views of Footscray.”
The proposal has outlined that the brewery and bar will be trading from 11am to 1am for seven days a week, with no more than 900 patrons permitted on site and no more than 850 patrons after midnight.
A cult figure, Mr Cozzzo arrived in Melbourne from Italy in 1956 as a 21-year-old.
He became famous for sales pitches such as “Grand sale! Grand sale! Grand sale!” and the catchphrase “megalo, megalo, megalo”, a Greek word meaning, large, great or grand.
As reported by Star Weekly, after half a century selling furniture in Footscray, Mr Cozzo sold the 1088-square-metre Hopkins Road premises for well over $6 million in 2018.
Title documents showed a contract for sale was entered into for the site with Derrimut-based developer Pelligra Group, and the store was listed as sold on a number of real estate advertising sites.
Founded in 2010 in Melbourne by Josh and Jake Uljans and Mr van Buuren, Moon Dog began with a brewery in Abbotsford and have since expanded operations into Preston.
Maribyrnong council will not make a decision on the application before Wednesday, December 21.
Details: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Advertised-Planning-Applications/54-58-Hopkins-Street-Footscray
