Johnny’s Green Room Crew’s Major Plans For Iconic Carlton Building

It’s been a hot minute since King & Godfree shuttered, leaving many Lygon Street locals speculating what’s going to fill the space.

Set to open this summer, the iconic building will play host to three new venues from the team behind Johnny’s Green Room filling the space with a neighbourhood osteria, a casual pizzeria and basement cocktail bar.

The corner tenancy will be reborn as an all-day neighbourhood osteria and wine bar, while the former Agostino space will transform into a casual counter-service pizzeria. Beneath them, the basement cellar will reopen as a late-night cocktail and music bar. The pizzeria will lead the trio, opening this December, right next door to Pidapipo.

The new venues are conceived and owned by Jamie Valmorbida (Pidapipo, Johnny’s Green Room), grandson of the late Carlo Valmorbida, who first acquired the King & Godfree Building in 1955. 

“Building on the success of Johnny’s Green Room, we’re creating a family of hospitality venues that honour the site’s heritage while looking to the future,” Valmorbida says. 

“This is about realising the King & Godfree building’s vision and creating a true neighbourhood precinct—generous, welcoming, and connected to its history.

Valmorbida says the decision to close the deli was difficult but necessary. 

“Letting go of the deli wasn’t easy, but it was time to move forward,” he says, “What we’re building still carries that same spirit—just in a new way. Our goal is to create venues that become part of Carlton’s story for years to come”.

Following the success of Johnny’s Green Room, the same creative team returns—Dion Hall (Johnny’s Green Room, Supernormal, HER) leading design, and Karen Martini (Bar Carolina, Johnny’s Green Room) overseeing food as Culinary Director.

The group is currently hiring for both front and back-of-house roles. Interested applicants can email jobs@jacaval.com. The pizzeria, the first venue of the three, will open in December at 297 Lygon Street, Carlton. Stay tuned for firm opening dates.