Canning will soon have a new pub after the city approved a proposal to convert the Sizzler building at Stockland Riverton Shopping Centre.
At its August 15 meeting the City of Canning council voted unanimously in support of the request to convert the Sizzler building to become the new Riverton Bar and Grill.
When its doors open the pub will include a semi-open alfresco area on three sides and feature an entirely renovated building front.
There will be a 250 square metres of restaurant area and more than 300 square metres for drinking, including a sports bar and lounge.
The restaurant and tavern sections will close at midnight Monday to Saturday and at 10pm on Sundays.
Councillor Ben Kunze moved the issue at the meeting and said bringing in a new pub could be a good opportunity for residents and local businesses.
“A number of people will be sad to see Sizzler go,” he said.
“We should be fortunate a local businessman is looking to bring back a tavern and take advantage of this opportunity.”
The building is 55 metres from the closest homes and more than 60 per cent of respondents living north of High Road, opposite the site, opposed the proposal during the city’s public consultation process.
However, more than 80 per cent of respondents living further away east and south of the building, who responded, supported the change and councillor Pauline Tarrant said having a central night time venue could cut antisocial behaviour in the suburbs.
“I think a location like this is perfectly well suited for this use and having a tavern down the road has previously been shown to be something valued by the community,” she said.
“You’re much better having a centre where there’s potential antisocial behaviour to happen than to have it across the community.
“Hopefully we’ll see this over the line and have a new tavern very soon.”
The new pub will come in more than two years after the nearby High Road Hotel shut its doors to make way for a Coles supermarket and First Choice Liquor outlet.
Sizzler has been winding down its operations across Australia since 2015, when its owner Collins Foods posted a $10 million loss in one year.
Once the Riverton restaurant has closed, Sizzler’s Kelmscott restaurant will be the only one remaining south of the Swan River.
Owner of Sizzler restaurants Collins Foods could not be contacted to confirm when the Riverton restaurant will close.
