What should go in Guyra’s empty shops?
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It’s a pressing question with another business closing next month - the Guyra Emporium, which will close on January 8.
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For 12 years, manageress Beth Archibald has sold everything from second-hand furniture and goods, bedding, toys, and giftware, to rugs, fishing gear, and outdoor statues.
The Emporium will be one of at least half-a-dozen shops that has closed in Bradley Street – including a newsagent, a butcher’s, and a fish and chip shop. The Guyra branch of the Commonwealth Bank shut in May, to locals’ consternation.
“Empty shops do not look good in a town,” Guyra & District Chamber of Commerce president Hans Hietbrink said.
“They don't create the impression that the town is alive, booming, dynamic. They give the impression that the town is dying.”
Not that it’s all gloom; Rafters was bought earlier this month; Juneils Cafe is thriving as a combined eatery and art-ery on the premises of the old antique shop; and the Fortune Chinese restaurant reopened in March under new management.
And TroutFest attracted an estimated 2000 visitors, many from interstate.
But the problem remains.
“We have empty shops; what do you put in them?” Mr Hietbrink asked.
“Really, we need input from the community to find out what the needs are. What do people want?
“Do we need another butcher’s shop? Do we need another beautician? Do we need another newsagent? We don’t know, and that’s the problem.”
What do you, the readers, think Guyra needs? Send us your suggestions.
Growing Guyra’s economy
Guyra’s economic future, Mr Hietbrink believes, depends on population growth and tourism.
He expects the $67 million expansion of the tomato farm, already the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, will bring more people to Guyra. The development is expected to create another 150 jobs for the region.
“Not all of those employees will live in Guyra,” Mr Hietbrink said, “but a number of them will – so more housing.”
Festivals and the Rail Trail will also attract tourists to town, Mr Hietbrink thinks. Guyra needs shops to attract tourists.
"The more tourists we get, the more people will shop in Guyra,” he said. “Therefore, there'll be a need for those boutique sort of shops that people would buy at if they're coming through Guyra.”
Renew Guyra?
One idea might be to refill empty shops with artworks and creative projects.
“The landlord doesn't charge rent, but allows people to put something in there – a business, or selling paintings, or whatever it might be – as long as it makes the shop open. Then if the business takes off, they can do a deal, and start paying some rent. But until such time as things are working, the shops should be let for nothing, or for nominal rent."
This approach was adopted by Renew Newcastle in 2008 – and they revitalized a stagnant city centre.
The project worked with property owners to make empty buildings open to artists, creative projects, and community groups for temporary displays.
“Renew Newcastle didn’t anticipate the knock-on effects the set-up would have,” the project’s Christopher Saunders told the Liberty Group last year.
“The city suddenly became this curious, active, creative place. The people of Newcastle started engaging with the city centre; coffee shops started to spring up; and then other businesses came in.”
The project has since been implemented in other Australian cities like Geelong, Broken Hill, and Kalgoorlie, and overseas in Toronto, Lisbon, Stockholm, and Christchurch.
“They put something in them to give the appearance the place was open and alive, and that's what we need in Guyra,” Mr Hietbrink said.
“We need empty shops to be full shops.”