When Romain Maunier opened Little Provence on 336 George Street, he brought a slice of Provence to Brisbane’s bustling central business district. The diner, housed in a heritage-listed building, quickly became a staple for diners seeking authentic French cuisine. "It’s an amazing space," Maunier reflected. "We had such a wide range of customers coming here."
The journey to opening Little Provence began with a letter of intent, a preliminary agreement that outlined terms Maunier believed were settled. However, when the final lease was presented, key points had shifted. "What I understood was agreed in a letter of intent was not reflected in the final lease agreement," Maunier explained.
The process of securing the lease became increasingly difficult. "That had been quite a long process to get even to the letter of intent," Maunier said. "Then there was some back and forth that there was not meant to be, to the point where I had to make a decision, and I didn’t want to be put under pressure." The situation made it challenging for Maunier to continue operating the restaurant.
The restaurant operated in this space for just over a year before the closure.
Operating in a heritage-listed building added character to Little Provence. The restaurant operated in this space for just over a year before the closure. Despite the challenges of maintaining an older building, the restaurant maintained its authentic French approach.
"I wanted first of all to know if I could have the lease before trying to solve an issue around that," he said. "At the end of the day, I didn’t get the lease, so it’s a problem less for me to solve." The closure marked the end of Little Provence's time in the heritage-listed space.
The building had previously housed other restaurants before Maunier's establishment occupied it for the past year.