Dec 10, 2024 – 5.10am
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When Melbourne finally emerged from its punishing lockdown in November 2021, Chris Lucas had to think fast. As the owner of one of the city’s fastest-growing restaurant groups, he needed to turn his bevy of venues into warm, welcoming places almost overnight.
How did he do that? He went full-on Christmassy. “Nobody was doing Christmas decorations in restaurants back then; they thought it was kitsch,” he says. “I couldn’t even find anyone to supply high-quality decorations.” The response to the festively decorated dining spaces was immediate. “People loved it,” he says. “They kept thanking me, saying ‘at last, we can celebrate Christmas with our friends in a beautiful environment’.”
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