A popular Church Street restaurant is looking to bring 24/7 dining back to the heart of Parramatta, new plans reveal.
It’s been a longtime since Eat Street had a restaurant that was open all hours of the day, but Frankie B’s is hoping to fill that gap under a new proposal that will have late-night foodies ‘chomping’ at the bit.
If the plans are given the green light, Frankie B’s would stay open 24/7, seven days a week.
The plan would bring back the days when restaurants like City Extra traded 24/7.
It follows the approval of new Late Night Trading development controls by Parramatta Council earlier this year, which allows businesses in the CBD to apply to operate around the clock.
The new rules seek to promote the Parramatta CBD as a “vibrant destination after dark”.
Planning documents submitted to City of Parramatta said the extended trading hours would stimulate the nighttime and morning economy.
“The development increases the social amenity of the property and area with the increased opportunity for social connection,” it said.
“By trading during extended hours, individuals and groups can visit the premises for food and beverages during more times of the day which aligns with the cultural needs of the Parramatta locality.
“The [proposal] will also increase the economic prosperity of the area, with increased employment opportunity for staff during the extended hours.”
The development application comes after Parramatta was named the first western Sydney city to gain Purple Flag accreditation last year – an internationally-recognised initiative which celebrates precincts that achieve high standards of excellence in managing their night-time economy.
To achieve a Purple Flag, areas must meet a high standard of excellence in managing its nighttime offering, its access to public transport, adequate street lighting and security.
Parramatta joins the likes of global cities like London, Dublin and Stockholm in achieving Purple Flag status.
Well-known for its impressive servings and big menu, Frankie B’s, founded by Frank Criniti, sits where his original Criniti’s restaurant was at 291 Church Street.
The Italian food chain returned to Parramatta in 2022, taking over the site of the former El Phoenician restaurant.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.