As St Kilda evolved into a playground for the masses in the early 20th century, with electric tram lines running to the front of Luna Park and down this end of Acland Street, the mansions and gardens were replaced with shops in the 1920s and 30s.

[3] The Scheherezade cafe, established in 1958,[5] was the most representative and popular part of this heritage, and served up borscht and latkes for decades.

[6] The remaining cake shops of Acland Street are a reminder of this community, though most are no longer run by Jewish owners.

Also on Acland Street is the St Kilda Army and Navy Club, built in 1923 with a hall on the first floor, a cinema to the rear, and flats for retired service personnel on top.

[8] Today Acland Street has many restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, including Vietnamese, Indian, Italian and Malaysian.