Michael Box wants Iluka St Market to be a collaborative space. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
During Chef Michael Box’s career in hospitality, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to do things differently.
With the success of his side hustle, Big Box Barbecue, the Texas-barbecue chef has transitioned from market trailer to a brick-and-mortar store, and he’s bringing others along for the ride.
The Iluka St Market at Narrabundah shops will be a shared kitchen, where multiple businesses can operate and other side hustles can develop their brands.
“We’re going to do our barbecue on Sundays, and All About Burgers will be serving on Thursday and Friday nights, maybe Saturday too. That leaves five other days where we can have other people using the space,” Michael told Region.
Michael and the smoker. Photo: VUE Studio.
He is currently renovating the space formerly occupied by Cafe Du Sel to be a space that will function as a shared kitchen. There will be a vinyl set-up with speakers and a wooden bench top to serve his Texas-inspired, Canberra-cooked brisket. Big Box Barbecue will set up their smoker trailer outside (the smell alone will get people queuing!) and there will be a shelf with merch and retail products like their sauces and spice rubs. Three taps will pour beer from small breweries, and a bar along the window will give people a little stand-up space to eat their meals.
After years of running market stalls, Michael has seen how hard it is for people to transition from a side hustle in a 3×3 tent to a full-time business with a permanent location. He wants to create that opportunity for others to rent out the commercial kitchen in order to grow their businesses. Affordable commercial kitchens are difficult to find and often expensive to rent in Canberra, so Michael is excited to offer the Iluka Street Market kitchen at an affordable rate.
“This is really all about giving back to people. I’ve been in hospo for 20 years and I’m done with the old ways. I want to make a new way.”
The Big Box Barbecue offerings have been very popular at markets, so Michael is excited for the brick-and-mortar store, where he says he can have “way more fun”. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
His enthusiasm is infectious.
He’s looking for Canberra’s best underground pizzaiolo to serve pizzas on a weeknight, and a patissier or baker to use the space during the day (and maybe create a bespoke dessert for BBQ Sundays). And he’s open to all sorts of collaborations: if there’s space on the calendar, then he’s keen to work something out!
Big Box Barbecue also offers on-site catering for events, and they will continue to do presales for their products on Sundays – their last market day had over 250 preorders!
Michael is hoping to open on the final weekend of May with a weekend of Texas barbecue and burgers, so stay tuned.
Iluka St Market is located at Narrabundah Shops, Iluka Street, Narrabundah. Follow Iluka St Market on Instagram, and Big Box Barbecue on Facebook or Instagram to find out more.
