Chris Lucas is adding another restaurant to the Lucas restaurant group’s ever-growing list, with the latest site of particular significance to the Melbourne dining scene.

It was announced on Saturday that the group would be taking over the lease of 23 Bourke Street – formerly the site of Society. Opened in the 1930’s by Italian migrant Giuseppe Codognotto, which remained a family business until 1983 before trading under different owners and names until 2016, it was initially built to cater to Melbourne’s immigrant population.

So it’s a fitting choice for Lucas, whose own father was a migrant, born in Greece.

Society, a Melbourne dining institution. Photo: Facebook

The site will be part of the Greek Australian’s plans for French bistro Batard.

Announced in 2018, works are already underway at 19-21 Bourke Street, and now with the acquisition of 23 Bourke Street, the vision is to operate the bistro across the two sites.

Lucas told Good Food it was the current owners of the site that approached him about the opportunity to take over the lease, after returning from a trip to France.

“It was a rare opportunity to extend my thoughts and ideas beyond what I had originally planned for the corner site,” Lucas said.

“Melbourne has too few buildings left from this era, so I really couldn’t say no.”

Expected to be in operation in 2020, the focus was initially going to be charcuterie and beef. Now the extended vision includes an oyster bar, rotisserie section, and a big emphasis on wine with a dedicated wine bar, wine store and open terrace.

“I’m really looking forward to bringing these old buildings back to life and being a neighbour to some old friends who I greatly respect,” Lucas said. “Hopefully I can in a small way be part of the next chapter of this beautiful part of Melbourne.”

In 2020 the Lucas restaurant group is also due to open an eatery at 80 Collins, with a reinvention of three-hatted Sydney restaurant Sepia.