A site in Melbourne, formally occupied by Plume Chinese Restaurant, has been sold to Hometown Asian Supermarket.

The sale follows a targeted campaign managed by JLL’s Romanor Falconer, Tom Noonan, MingXuan Li, and Dominic McGrath. According to JLL, it highlights a growing trend of retailers securing sites as owner-occupiers.

The 4081sqm site at 546 Doncaster Road features a dual frontage, including over 47 metres to Doncaster Road, and contains a two-level restaurant building. It’s located within the Doncaster Hill Activity Centre, approximately 500 metres from Westfield Doncaster.

The site is positioned to benefit from the area’s significant growth, says JLL. The Doncaster Hill precinct is set to accommodate over 11,000 residents by 2036, with more than 5500 new dwellings expected in the next 10 to 15 years. Furthermore, a proposed Suburban Rail Loop station in Doncaster will provide a new transport link for the community, enhancing connectivity to the CBD and surrounding suburbs.

The sale to an expanding grocery operator is also supported by the area’s specific demographic makeup. Data from Manningham City Council shows that residents of Chinese ancestry represent 40.8% of the population in the Doncaster Hill precinct, a figure significantly higher than the average for the broader City of Manningham (26.9%) and Greater Melbourne (6.5%).

“The purchaser plans to occupy the property for its expanding premium Asian supermarket chain, recognising the strategic value of a prominent Doncaster Road location,” says JLL Head of Asia Markets MingXuan Li.

“Large-scale metropolitan sites with significant frontage, expansive parking and flexible zoning remain tightly held and highly sought after by expanding retail operators.”

The trend of retailers acquiring their own properties is prevalent in the area. In a similar move, Woolworths purchased its own store in Doncaster in December 2025, which JLL says underscores the value placed on owning key operational sites within this catchment.

The campaign resulted in seven formal offers.

“The campaign attracted strong interest from a diverse range of groups including restaurateurs, retailers, churches, automotive dealers, developers and value-add investors,” says JLL Senior Executive of Retail Investments Romanor Falconer.

“Despite development constraints impacting the net developable area, the breadth of buyer interest highlights continued demand for prominent infill and value-add opportunities across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.”