Cream rises as doors open to Milky Lane

INTERNET burger sensation Milky Lane opened its doors in Bendigo last week.

Founder Christian Avant said it took four years of work to get renovations approved and actioned in the more than 100-year-old building on the corner of Lyttleton Terrace and Mundy Street that is the venue’s new home.

“They had to actually redo all the internals of this building, which was a huge job,” he said.

“It’s far exceeded anything I expected. I expected it to be a small, heritage, dingy kind of building where we had to keep everything which was from the original facades.

“We’ve had to do a lot of that, but we’ve managed to make it feel like Milky Lane way more than I expected, and it’s one of my favourite venues that I’ve ever been in.”

Mr Avant described going to Milky Lane as “an experience” and as well as the burgers and shakes, the brand boasts its live music and cocktail offerings.

The restaurant will have DJs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, except in the first month of opening when there’s be someone spinning up tunes almost every day.

“The music is a huge part of the experience, so it’s all nostalgic 2000s hip-hop and R’n’B,” Mr Avant said.

“Everything in Milky Lane is a throwback and part of that feel good era.

“That’s because I feel that’s when most people are coming in for the first time and I want them to have the full experience.”

Mr Avant said the staff are at Milky Lane are locals including the DJs, and the brand received more than 500 resumes within the first few hours of the venue’s employment ads going live online.

The Bendigo venue is the largest Milky Lane in Australia so far, and can seat up to 250 people and includes the Bendigo’s largest alfresco dining terrace.

“There’s nothing else like it,” he said. “We will do our best to make you feel like a VIP.”