IT took six years to turn a former bike shop into one of Maylands’ best known venues. 

Now, after nearly seven years of trading, Lyric’s Bar and Underground is moving up. 

A rooftop bar, recently approved, is the next step for the family-run venue. 

“It’s about giving people a reason to stay longer,” says owner Michiel de Ruyter. 

“If Maylands becomes more of a destination, more people make the trip in the first place.” 

• Lyric owners Konrad and Michiel de Ruyter .

Lyric’s has built a steady following with its mix of food, drinks and a purpose-built live music venue beneath street level. Styled with a Melbourne laneway feel, it draws a mix of locals and visitors from across Perth. 

The rooftop, designed with community input, is intended to complement the town centre rather than simply expand the venue’s footprint. 

That thinking carries through to how the business operates. 

Michiel’s son Konrad manages the bar, daughter-in-law Rochelle handles operations and marketing, and extended family member Luke Rinaldi oversees live music. 

Turnover in hospitality is usually high, so the structure offers stability, supporting quick decision-making, shared accountability and a genuine belief in how the venue fits within the wider community. 

Offerings

Maylands, meanwhile, has no shortage of offerings. 

Since Swallow Bar opened in 2012 as the suburb’s first small bar, the area has grown into a compact but diverse precinct, with a microbrewery, bars, cafés and restaurants alongside retail and services. 

What it’s still working through is consistency. 

Foot traffic can fluctuate, a handful of shopfronts along Whatley Crescent and Eighth Avenue remain vacant, and some long-time operators have moved on. 

At the same time, the suburb has something many don’t; a strong sense of community. 

From its historical society, community garden, live theatre, town team and business association, there’s a network that keeps people connected. 

The rooftop approval signals a level of confidence in both the operator and the precinct. 

For Michiel, who has been active in local business groups including the Maylands Business Association for years, it’s a continuation of a long-term commitment to the suburb, not just as a business owner, but as someone invested in its growth. 

The view from up top will look out over a precinct with real momentum and some conspicuous gaps. 

Coles-held land that has sat undeveloped, shopfront vacancies along Whatley Crescent, and a succession of revitalisation commitments from state and local government that locals are still waiting to see delivered. 

Businesses like Lyric’s are investing for the long term regardless. The question is who joins them.

by SIMMONE SACHE