Paddington terraces springing back to life after COVID-19

One Brisbane high street has sprung back to life despite the coronavirus lockdowns, defying the trend of For Lease signs popping up along other shopping strips across the city. A former MasterChef contestant is even making it home for her new eatery.

HIGH STREETS around Brisbane may be struggling, but coronavirus lockdowns may have reversed the fortunes for one of the city’s longest suffering shopping strips.

The Courier-Mail reported earlier this year that the inner-west suburb of Paddington was one of the worst for commercial tenancy vacancies.

Lutwyche Road shops vacant as oversupply leaves ghost town feel

For Lease signs dot empty shop windows in one of Brisbane's iconic high streets

There were 75 empty retail spaces along the suburb’s once-bustling terraces in January, with some tenants complaining that high rents were making their businesses unsustainable.

But tenants along the strip are now in a more positive mood, saying locals have flocked back as restrictions force them to shop locally.

Boutique gift store owner Mel Simmonds said her shop, which was founded early last year along Latrobe Tce, had seen increased trade through the pandemic.

Paddington’s Latrobe and Given Terraces were among those across Brisbane suffering from a plague of For Lease signs. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Last year I was new, and it felt like there was a pretty heavy cloud over all the boutique shopping precincts,” Ms Simmonds said.

“People were feeling very dejected.”

But customers had returned, Ms Simmonds said, and the mood of shopkeepers was now brighter for the prominent terraces.

“I feel like people are a little bit optimistic, and most of the people are talking about the positive impacts they’ve come across.”

Both Ms Simmonds and fellow neighbour Leanne DeMartini said the street’s morale was also buoyed by the recent leasing of the former Coffee Club premises, which reportedly will become an Asian cuisine restaurant managed by a former MasterChef contestant, Emily Yeoh.

Thousand Island Dressing owner Leanne DeMartini said the mood on the street had improved. Picture: Annette Dew

Ms DeMartini, who has owned gift shop Thousand Island Dressing for 18 years, said she saw more business after the lockdown started.

“People were saying ‘thank goodness you’re still open during this period,’ because they had realised how important their local stores and cafes were,” she said.

“They were buying items they didn’t really need, but they just wanted to contribute.”

“A lot of the places that had ‘For Lease’ signs have actually been leased.”

In addition to 32 trees that were recently lit up in fairy lights, a Brisbane City Council spokesman said a new ‘Welcome to the Terraces’ sign and three new murals along the strip would soon be completed to further rejuvenate the area.

“We have been working with local business group Paddington 4064 to make sure Paddington’s high streets remain a popular shopping and dining precinct for residents and visitors,” the spokesman said.

“Coronavirus has had devastating impact on businesses right across Brisbane we are investing significantly in Paddington and precincts across the city so retail strips can thrive again.”