The two owners of Mister Close met in high school in the 1980s, and formed a strong friendship that has lasted several decades. When deciding to go into business together, the drew inspiration from those years, naming the cafe after their favourite Geography teacher from year 8. Sporting a striking black moustache and dark rimmed glasses, Mister Close was loved by many of his students.

Mister Close inspired his students to better things, a good analogy for the location of the cafe that bears his name.

Situated behind a Starbucks adjacent to an asian food court, Mister close is the first stage of the retail upgrade to Midtown arcade and connects the newly renovated office tower foyer with the retail mall off Swanston Street.

Mister Close also inspired all elements of the fitout. The library has been replaced by the dining room, and the cloister, by the kitchen. The most striking element in the cafe is the folded timber ceiling baffles, hinging accordian like and folding down to conceal the kitchen canopy. This references two things, Mister Close’s love of the accordian, and the cloister where he frequently liked to teach. It also gives Mister Close a presence on the visually noisy Swanston Street.

All furniture was designed specifically for this fitout, and was a study in Geometry. Circles and triangles abound, and are joined in incongruous ways. Small circular tables and stools look like they will topple over, while larger tables and benches appear sturdy and robust from one angle, but impossibly thin from another. The whole thing is designed to make people think and engage with the space, in the safety of a protected environment, a little like school really.