Toyouke Stand

Located on A’Beckett Street in Melbourne’s CBD, Toyouke Stand brings a fresh take on Japanese dessert and beverage retail. The existing hospitality tenancy was transformed into a warm, contemporary space inspired by Japanese culture and Shinto design, creating a welcoming destination where customers can pause and enjoy a moment away from the pace of the city.

Led by Director Michael Battista, Total Fitouts Toorak delivered this commercial hospitality fitout, combining natural materials, custom joinery and practical food-service facilities to create a space that balances visual appeal with everyday functionality.

Transforming an Existing Hospitality Tenancy

The project involved refurbishing and reconfiguring an existing hospitality space to accommodate Toyouke Stand’s operations. The owners wanted more than a functional dessert store. Their vision was to create a calming environment that reflected Japanese influences while providing an efficient, practical setting for staff and customers.

The scope of works included demolition and site preparation, custom service counters and joinery, stainless steel work surfaces and splashbacks, food-preparation facilities, plumbing, electrical and fire-service works, flooring, painting, signage and digital menu displays. With a compact Melbourne CBD tenancy, making effective use of the available space was essential. Customer-facing areas needed to showcase the products and create a welcoming first impression, while back-of-house facilities had to accommodate equipment, food preparation and staff movement.

Total Fitouts Toorak coordinated the construction elements, finishes and essential services to transform the existing premises into a purpose-built hospitality environment suited to the business.

A Japanese-Inspired Design Built Around Calm and Simplicity

With Melbourne’s CBD providing a fast-paced urban setting, the owners wanted Toyouke Stand to offer a more relaxed experience. The design draws on the simplicity and natural materials associated with Japanese interiors, using timber, deep-green tiling and carefully coordinated finishes to establish warmth and balance.

Rather than relying on excessive decoration, the fitout uses a restrained selection of materials and architectural details to create visual interest. Natural timber introduces warmth, while deep-green feature tiles add colour, texture and character. Japanese-inspired timber screening reinforces the design concept and helps establish the store’s identity. Achieving this balance required careful coordination of the finishes. The timber needed to complement the darker tiles without making the space feel visually heavy, while the overall palette had to remain cohesive throughout the interior.

The result is a contemporary hospitality fitout that feels considered and inviting, with each material contributing to the atmosphere envisioned by the owners.

Custom Spotted Gum Veneer Joinery

One of the standout features of the Toyouke Stand fitout is the custom spotted gum veneer service counter and joinery.

– As a central element of the store, the counter plays an important role in both presentation and daily operations. It provides the main customer service point while accommodating product displays and the equipment required for service.

– The spotted gum veneer introduces natural grain and warmth, complementing the Japanese-inspired design direction. Its timber finish creates a considered contrast against the deep-green Kitkat tiles and stainless steel work surfaces, bringing together the softer and more industrial elements of the interior.

– Custom joinery also allowed the counter to be designed around the specific needs of the business. Service, product display and equipment requirements were integrated into the design, helping maximise the available floor space and create a more organised working area.

In a compact hospitality tenancy, every element needs to serve a purpose. By combining bespoke joinery with practical detailing, Total Fitouts Toorak delivered a feature that defines the store’s visual identity while supporting its everyday operations.

Deep-Green Kitkat Tiles and Timber Screening

The deep-green Kitkat feature tiles provide a distinctive visual element throughout the interior. Their slim, linear profile introduces texture and rhythm, adding depth without relying on bold patterns or excessive decoration.

The rich green finish complements the spotted gum veneer, creating contrast between the colour of the tiles and the warmth of the timber. Together, these materials establish a recognisable palette that supports the Japanese-inspired concept.

Timber screening and detailing further strengthen the design, introducing structure and visual separation while maintaining consistency with the natural materials used throughout the store.

The combination of finishes demonstrates how thoughtful material selection can help communicate a brand’s personality. At Toyouke Stand, the balance of colour, texture and natural materials creates a distinctive customer environment that reflects the business and its offering.

Balancing Design with Practical Food-Service Requirements

While the customer-facing design was central to the brief, the fitout also needed to meet the operational requirements of a dessert and beverage store.

The project incorporated food-preparation facilities, stainless steel work surfaces and splashbacks, plumbing, electrical services and fire-service works. These elements provide the practical foundations needed to accommodate equipment, preparation processes and daily operations. Stainless steel was incorporated into the working areas to provide durable, functional surfaces suited to food preparation. Its clean appearance also complements the timber and tiled finishes, maintaining consistency between the service areas and the wider design. Coordinating joinery, equipment and essential services within the available footprint was an important part of the construction process. Each element needed to function effectively without compromising the intended look and feel of the customer-facing areas.

The completed fitout brings these priorities together, supporting the business behind the scenes while maintaining the calm, welcoming atmosphere envisioned by the owners.

Integrated Digital Menus and Signage

Digital menus and signage connect Toyouke Stand’s visual identity with the customer ordering experience.

Clear menu presentation helps customers understand the offering and make their selections, while integrating digital displays into the fitout ensures these elements complement the wider interior design. The displays and signage were coordinated with the custom counter and surrounding finishes, creating a cohesive customer-facing environment. Their placement needed to complement the timber joinery and tiled features while remaining practical for everyday service.

By considering branding, menus and signage as part of the wider commercial fitout, Total Fitouts Toorak helped create a space where customer communication, visual presentation and operational requirements work together.

A Tailored Commercial Fitout for a Melbourne Business

Every commercial tenancy presents its own challenges, from the existing condition of the premises to the operational needs of the business and the owner’s design vision. Toyouke Stand required the refurbishment of an existing hospitality space, the integration of multiple services and the creation of a distinctive interior within a compact CBD footprint.

The counter needed to combine service, display and equipment, while the food-preparation areas required practical work surfaces and coordinated services. At the same time, the owners wanted an interior that felt warm, open and calming.

Michael Battista and the Total Fitouts Toorak team brought these requirements together through a coordinated approach to design and construction. The project demonstrates how thoughtful space planning, custom detailing and practical construction solutions can transform an existing tenancy into a distinctive commercial environment.

The Result: A Warm, Functional Japanese Dessert and Beverage Store

Toyouke Stand showcases how a well-planned hospitality fitout can shape the customer experience while supporting the needs of a growing business.

The combination of spotted gum veneer joinery, deep-green Kitkat tiles, Japanese-inspired timber screening and integrated digital menus creates a distinctive interior that reflects the owners’ vision. Behind the design, coordinated food-preparation facilities, stainless steel work surfaces and essential building services provide the practical foundations for day-to-day operations.

Delivered by Michael Battista and the team at Total Fitouts Toorak, the completed project balances atmosphere, brand identity and functionality within a compact Melbourne CBD tenancy.

Planning a Commercial Fitout in Melbourne?

Whether you’re opening a café, launching a retail store, refurbishing a hospitality venue or transforming an existing commercial tenancy, Total Fitouts Toorak can help bring your vision to life.

Led by Michael and Anthony Battista, our local team works with Melbourne businesses to deliver tailored commercial fitouts, combining design, construction and shopfitting expertise to create spaces that look great and work hard for your business.

From custom joinery and interior finishes to essential services and practical space planning, we can help manage your project from concept to completion.

Ready to transform your commercial space? Contact Total Fitouts Toorak today to discuss your next commercial or hospitality fitout in Melbourne.