New combatant to enter Albert Street burger battle

Brisbane’s CBD burger battle is intensifying, with Grill’d building a new Albert Street restaurant that would place it within metres of rivals Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Hungry Jack’s and KFC.

Planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council show the burger chain will convert the vacant former EB Games tenancy on Albert Street, between Queen and Adelaide streets, into a food and drink outlet with seating for up to 153 diners.

The site sits a short walk from Grill’d’s existing Wintergarden restaurant, which was expected to be affected by the shopping centre’s proposed redevelopment.

Previously, the site next to Rocking Horse Records was an EB Games shopfront, which has since relocated to a space opposite.

The new shopfront would be just a few doors up from Wendy’s, which opened last October at the corner of Albert and Adelaide streets, opposite King George Square, almost four months after plans were first submitted to the council.

Designs for the new Grill’d show a prominent new entry, illuminated signage and an internal dining layout with raised booths overlooking Albert Street.

In an assessment report lodged with the council, Property Projects Australia says the changes would help activate the Queen Street Mall frontage and contribute to Albert Street’s growing concentration of food and drink venues.

“The proposal maintains the continuous, fine-grain frontage of Albert Street with an active use that maximises pedestrian amenity and convenience, specifically providing the sought-after land use of a food and drink outlet along Albert Street,” PPA says.

“The provision of a new Grill’d store maintains Queen Street Mall and encourages shoppers and visitors to come into the city centre with a high level of public amenity and service offering.”

It will be the latest salvo in the Albert Street burger wars, with the planned Grill’d, Wendy’s, KFC, McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s all within about 110 metres of each other.

Grill’d was asked whether it was a temporary move while the Wintergarden was being redeveloped, or whether its long-term plans included both sites, but repeated requests for comment went unanswered.