After two false starts Criniti’s is finally opening a restaurant in Wollongong this July.
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The family run restaurant business has done considerable research during the last two years that still identifies Wollongong as an ideal location.
The site will be 200 Crown Street. But the Italian cuisine eatery will face Keira Street next to Kinn Thai where the journey all began when the Illawarra Mercury first reported it in January 2016.
Group marketing director Petra Orrenius said after such a positive response from the public two years ago the research continued to show people most likely to eat at a Criniti’s Restaurant were young families and young people.
She said the family run business was aware of Wollongong having a large number of young families and a university with a huge student population.
“We are so excited for this, considering the demand from the public. And considering dominant part of our target is either young millennials and students or young families that are after eatertainment (food, warmth and laughter),” Ms Orrenius said.
“So we decided let’s go for it. We will finally be opening up in July."
Wollongong will get a new Criniti’s before Perth and Brisbane.
The fit-out is just about to begin but the search has already started for staff with between 30 and 40 jobs being created for the 160 seat restaurant.
"We will be running open days on May 22 and 23 for people to bring in their CVs,” Ms Orrenius said.
“That is when we will be doing all our recruiting. That will be followed by six weeks of training".
Registrations and CVs for the open days can be sent to career@crinitis.com.au.
Ms Orrenius said the Crinitis Group head chef is already looking at how the restaurant will be sourcing local suppliers to tap into what the Wollongong community wants.
He also wants to create a Wollongong flavoured pizza.
"We want to know what Wollongong people want to put on a pizza and on the menu for them,” she said..
Criniti’s Wollongong won't be quite as large as the Sydney and Melbourne restaurants with up to 300 seats.
But it will feature similar ambience in addition to its own unique elements relating to Wollongong.
"We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable," Ms Orrenius said.
For Criniti’s lovers who frequently travel to Sydney the famous three metre pizza will be on the Wollongong menu.
“And are you up for the Criniti’s challenge? If you manage to eat a one metre pizza in one hour you get to eat free for a year," Ms Orrenius said.
Two people can also take the challenge with a two-metre pizza.
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