THE DE RUYTER family is planning to open a multi-million dollar wine bar-cafe and live music venue in Maylands.
Three-storey “Lyric Lane” would have a licensed function room in the basement— earmarked for live music and comedy—and a cafe-bar on the ground floor.
The top two floors would be used for office space and limited accommodation with a rooftop-garden.
The bar area would hold 100 people and the sound-proof basement 150.
The Guildford Road venue is the brainchild of engineer Michiel de Ruyter and his extended family, who have worked in the bar, music and cafe sector.
“We thought Maylands was a perfect spot because there is no other venue like this in the area,” he says. “We will be in the Eighth Avenue district which is only a short walk from the train station and two stops from the city.
“Numerous surveys show that a high percentage of people that go to these venues all use public transport.”
Nephew-in-law Luke Rinaldi, a band manager and booking agent, says Maylands is becoming a hotbed for musicians.
“There is no other music venue of this size in the area—it would be a first.”
“If we opened tomorrow I could easily book out the venue with just local bands,” he says.
“A lot of musos are now living in Highgate and Maylands, because Mt Lawley and the city are too expensive to stay in.
“There is no other music venue of this size in the area—it would be a first.”
Mr de Ruyter says he has funding for the venue in place and is preparing a development application to submit to Bayswater council.
He plans to demolish the old Speedlite bike shop, near Rifo’s on Guildford Road, and build Lyric Lane in its place.
“The water table is low enough there to accommodate a basement,” he says.
“The old shop didn’t have one, so we’ll need to build it.”
A survey to gauge public reaction to the venue is at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TheLyricLaneConcept
Mr de Ruyter says he would like to open Lyric Lane in 2016.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK
Perth Voice Interactive 
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