The heritage-listed establishment on Punt Rd in central Cobram has been a focal part of Cobram for as long as people can remember. Saturday, September 2, saw the front part of the building reopen to the public.
Luke Miller has owned the family-run business with his family members for almost two years.
He said the front rooms had a cafe when they originally bought the establishment.
The cafe eventually closed due to the quieter winter months while the family focused on the bistro part of the hotel.
When the family decided to reopen the cafe part, they decided to refurbish it.
Due to the building’s heritage classification, the focus on the outside of the building centred around repainting the facade.
In the case of the interior, major refurbishment work comprised changing the colour scheme and removing the pre-existing pool table to the bistro area.
“It was brown and yellow...So we cleaned all that up,” Mr Miller said.
“We haven’t changed too much. We only repainted and cleaned up a few things.”
Asked if doing up the front rooms was burdensome, Mr Miller said it was time-consuming.
Mr Miller hopes the cafe will offer a different vibe to the bistro at the back.
“Well, it will be more of a summer hangout for the people that don’t want to come into the noisy bistro,” he said.
“There’s some people that want to be able to go and hang out with their friends and not have to be out where the noise and the pool table is.”
The cafe area also operates as a function room at night for various social groups such as Rotary and Lions.
Currently, what sets the cafe apart from the bistro is the breakfast served, though Mr Miller hopes to add more food to the cafe menu, including sandwiches, rolls and cakes.
As for future plans for the Grand Central Hotel, Mr Miller hopes to shift his attention to the balcony.
“We want to rebuild the balcony. It’s going to be a long process, working with the Heritage Society.”
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