Justin Hemes brings Merivale to Melbourne with a cosy new agave-and-vinyl cocktail bar
Merivale is set to make its Melbourne debut this October with the opening of LB’s Record Bar at 12 Meyers Place.
The new venue will take over the space once home to Lily Blacks, which closed late last year. Merivale secured the ground-floor lease (seven years with two five-year options), paying about A$2,780 a month, and the deal came complete with a 3 am trading licence and capacity for 95 guests.
Patrons can expect a concept that blends two passions—agave spirits and vinyl records. Tequila and mezcal cocktails will take centre stage, while DJs spin exclusively on wax.
Local operators Michael and Zara Mandrusan, known for Bar Margaux, Heartbreaker and The Everleigh, will run the day-to-day.
For Justin Hemes, the move marks the culmination of a four-year hunt for the right Melbourne venue. It’s also the first step in taking his Sydney-based empire interstate.
Merivale already runs more than 70 venues across New South Wales and Queensland, including well-known names like Establishment, Coogee Pavilion, Ivy, Mr. Wong, Totti’s, The Newport and the newly acquired Lorne Hotel on Victoria’s surf coast. The group’s portfolio stretches from pubs and fine-dining restaurants to late-night clubs, each designed with its own character and flair.
Now Melbourne is about to get a taste of that formula. LB’s Record Bar won’t be the biggest site in the stable, but it’s an important one—signalling Merivale’s intent to expand its influence in Australia’s other major hospitality capital.
Jonathan Jackson, 27th August 2025
