Andrew McConnell, the chef and restaurateur behind Melbourne venues including Gimlet, is buying Stokehouse, an iconic restaurant in St Kilda. All reports describe the purchase as a return for McConnell to the business that shaped his early career: he previously worked as a young chef for the family that now owns Stokehouse. The articles present the deal as a transition from his role working with the restaurant’s founding family to becoming its owner. Coverage notes that McConnell’s connection to the venue is longstanding, with his early employment under the family ownership forming part of the story behind the acquisition. The outlets agree on the central facts that McConnell is the buyer, Stokehouse is the property being purchased, and the purchase follows his earlier experience working for the family that operates the restaurant. Details on timing, purchase price, and any planned changes to the restaurant are not provided in the shared source summaries. The reports therefore focus primarily on the personal history and the confirmation that the acquisition is taking place.