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Lucky Chan's laundry dishes load of noodles

Perth's newest restaurant is yet to open its doors, but already people have been dropping off their laundry.

Australia's first crowdfunded permanent bar, Lucky Chan's Laundry & Noodlebar, will officially welcome diners today after 18 months of preparation that has seen an old building in Northbridge converted into a quirky three-storey establishment complete with rooftop bar.

Situated in the heart of William Street, Lucky Chan's will have WA's only ramen room, which the owners say is the most expensive room in the house because of a specially made machine imported from Japan that cost "the price of a Lotus".

The machine will be put to good use, with the restaurant expecting to dish up 2000 portions of ramen noodles a week and more than 1000 dumplings a day - from 11.30am until the "wee hours of the morning", seven days a week.

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The restaurant's name pays homage to Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian migrants who changed the face of Northbridge when they settled in the area and established stores and laundries.

Lucky Chan's owners have played on the theme with washing machine tables, a wall of 36 ironing boards and a bar top covered with 2304 mah-jong tiles.

Hanging from a clothesline are bottles of Japanese whisky.

"It is the world's smallest fake laundry," co-owner Andrew Bennett said.

Lucky Chan's entry looks like a laundromat, which is why passersby have wanted to drop off their laundry. So the owners have included a drycleaning service - one of many ways they have catered to requests from future customers.

The "people-powered" venue was created with the $112,585 raised during last year's 60-day funding campaign of pledges ranging from $5 to $20,000.

The names of nearly 800 supporters have been recorded on the Great Wall of Chan on the rooftop. Among them is the couple who donated $20,000 to hold their wedding in the restaurant last month.

The owners - the team behind North Perth small bar The Classroom - said it was important to acknowledge those who contributed to the establishment.

"It gives them a sense of ownership, and their suggestions helped create the atmosphere," Mr Bennett said.

"For example, during the crowdfunding campaign, people urged us to stay open into the early hours of the morning."

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Picture: The West Australian/Megan Powell

AHA(WA) chief executive Bradley Woods said the restaurant's community-funding model was a great example of unique capital raising.

"Those who invested in Lucky Chan's through crowdfunding should be very proud of being a part of the process," Mr Woods said.

"Lucky Chan's is one example of Perth's exciting hospitality evolution and an indication of why WA is fast making a name for itself as an international hospitality destination."

Lucky Chan's general manager Sasha Verheggen said the experience was extremely humbling for the small business owners.

"Our vision for this project could not have happened without the support we received - most of it from people we'd never met - who believed in us and what we wanted to deliver to Perth," she said.

Find out more about Lucky Chan's on Today Tonight at 6.30pm.