Collingwood has always thrived on contrast. Heritage warehouses meet design studios, and creative energy pulses through industrial streets. At the base of one of its most intentional new buildings, that balance now has a focal point.
The Local Drop — Melbourne’s wine delivery service turned coffee-to-wine bar — has officially opened its doors at 116 Rokeby, a commercial building as considered as the business it now hosts. With architecture and interiors by Carr, and delivered by builder-occupier Figurehead, 116 Rokeby has already earned accolades for design and environmental performance, from its double-skin façade to Platinum WELL and Climate Active Carbon Neutral certifications.
But beyond the concrete, glass and credentials lies a commitment to culture. A belief that workplaces aren’t only about productivity, but participation. The Local Drop is now the meeting point at the heart of that idea.
The relationship began well before the fitout.
In 2014, Jagdev Singh was hand-delivering wines across Melbourne, building The Local Drop with personal service and sharp instincts, while Figurehead was evolving from a tight-knit crew into one of the city’s most respected builders. Joe Grasso and Adam Licciardi, Figurehead’s founder and long-time business partner, first met Jag at a private dinner around seven years ago. His mix of nous, warmth and humility left an impression.
“We enjoyed watching his business grow quickly,” says Joe.
So when plans for 116 Rokeby were being finalised, it was Joe and Adam who suggested Jag as the perfect ground-floor tenant — not just for his product, but for his values. There was one caveat: it had to include morning coffee.
“We wanted the building to start the day with the same quality and care we put into its design,” Joe says. “Jag got it immediately.”
Now, The Local Drop’s flagship has opened not just as a storefront, but as a natural extension of what 116 Rokeby stands for: precision, generosity, and doing things properly.
Designed by Studio Y, the fitout is grounded and expressive with the Award-Winning Architecture of 116 Rokeby in mind. The existing palette of metallic finishes, glass and concrete inspired the need for some warmth and richness reflective of The Local Drop’s offering.
“The design of The Local Drop began with a simple idea, light passing through glasses of beautiful wines, casting shadows that celebrate the ritual of a good pour,” says Tess Speldewinde, Senior Associate Interior Designer.
Every material choice was rooted in the essence of wine, the glow of a Grenache in the sun, the depth of a Malbec against stone, the warmth of aged oak. It’s a place designed to feel grounded and quietly luxurious.”
“When you think of wine shops around the world and locally, you automatically think of full height shelving wrapping the walls stocked to the brim with wines,” she continues.
Whilst we wanted to create this aesthetic, we were mindful that the contemporary environment needed a more condensed approach.”
The space blends materiality with meaning: red hues, warm timber, and a statement marble benchtop with bold veining, balanced against raw concrete and exposed structure. No gimmicks. A full-height wine wall with integrated fridges anchors the room, with a sommelier station, custom storage and lighting that shifts with the day.
The service model is deliberately pared back. There’s minimal corkage, no inflated pricing, and no fuss. Wines are available to try before purchase (with tastings Monday to Friday) and the selection spans cult allocations to cellar staples. A handwritten cellar list includes bottles the team are constantly curating.
Small plates include Local Ocean seafood, Rumble coffee, and house-baked focaccia: local favourites that speak to Collingwood’s broader maker culture. This isn’t hospitality as performance; it’s hospitality as rhythm.
On the floor is Pierrick Gorrichon, a sommelier whose résumé spans Michelin-starred City Social in London and Melbourne’s Gimlet.
“I returned to Australia after spending the vintage in Avisa (Champagne), with Etienne Calsac and met Jag in early 2025. I just had a good feeling.” he says about taking the role at a new concept wine bar in Collingwood.
“We aim for The Local Drop wine bar to be a safe and welcoming place where you can either be curious and try something new, something under the radar, or enjoy an iconic wine for an affordable price.
We love to share each wine context, their Producer’s stories, and what to expect in the glass. Connecting wine and people.”
Pierrick splits his time between the bar and his five-month-old golden retriever, Brioche, trained with the discipline you’d expect from a French sommelier. Like his owner, he’s composed, warm, and hard not to like.
Already, The Local Drop has become a shared language between tenants who appreciate good business, well-designed places and thoughtful rituals. It’s a reminder that buildings aren’t only made from glass and steel, but from the lives and interactions that unfold within them.
In a city overflowing with pop-ups and rebrands, The Local Drop isn’t that. It’s a contribution. To the building, to the neighbourhood, and to the next chapter of Collingwood.
