Edition Group Takes the Reins of Five Florentino Family Venues
Melbourne’s restaurant scene doesn’t often see a power shift like this. The Grossi family’s sale of their Bourke Street empire to Edition Group isn’t just another acquisition, it’s a generational exchange between two of the country’s most influential hospitality families.
Florentino, The Grill, Cellar Bar, Ombra and Arlechin have long represented Melbourne’s golden-era dining: a world of carpeted opulence, framed mirrors, and the kind of service that makes you sit a little straighter. For almost three decades, Guy Grossi has been the custodian of that legacy, his name becoming shorthand for traditional Italian formality. Now, Rebecca Yazbek’s Edition Group takes the reins, bringing a new lens to some of the city’s most recognisable rooms.
Yazbek, who founded Edition after the success of Nomad in Sydney, has built a portfolio that treats heritage like an ingredient rather than a burden. Her group’s Melbourne ventures, Nomad on Flinders Lane and Reine & La Rue inside the city’s original stock exchange, both illustrate a knack for preservation without stagnation. The approach is polished, strategic, and has quickly positioned Edition as one of Australia’s most design-literate operators.
“We aim to protect what makes these venues iconic while shaping their future for the next generation of diners,” Yazbek said following the announcement. She has confirmed there will be no immediate operational changes, preferring to let the team settle before any evolution takes place, likely mid-2026.
To guide the transition, Edition has appointed two key figures: Michael Greenlaw, previously at Atria in the Ritz-Carlton, as group culinary director, and Brendan Katich, from Reine & La Rue, as executive chef at Florentino. Greenlaw’s arrival hints at a shift towards refinement over reinvention. “We’re stepping into one of the oldest restaurants in Australia,” he said. “The goal is to uphold the sophistication and warmth that people expect while ensuring these venues remain alive and relevant.”
For Guy Grossi, the sale marks the close of an extraordinary chapter. “We’ve had the honour of being part of Florentino’s story for almost 27 years,” he said in a statement. “It’s time for the next custodians to continue that story.”
Both sides enter this moment with complex legacies. Grossi has weathered public scrutiny following allegations of inappropriate behaviour from former staff, while Edition Group itself has faced headlines beyond the dining room. But in Melbourne, reputation is often measured by resilience. The city remembers, forgives selectively, and rewards those who evolve.
The deal, finalising in November, represents a rare intersection of old-world glamour and new-school precision. If Edition can balance Florentino’s heritage with its own contemporary rhythm, this could be the city’s most significant hospitality handover in a decade.
Melbourne’s restaurant scene doesn’t often see a power shift like this. The Grossi family’s sale of their Bourke Street empire to Edition Group isn’t just another acquisition, it’s a generational exchange between two of the country’s most influential hospitality families.
