Luxe Studios opens in Mary Street, Gympie

Eight businesses have opened in Mary Street within a stylish multi-level studio, breathing new life into an old building. See the two-level walkthrough:

Eight businesses have opened in Mary Street within a stylish multi-level studio, breathing new life into an old pet store.

On July 7, Luxe Studios opened its doors at 198 Mary Street, boasting nine local businesses spread across two levels, as well as a cafe and spacious parking out the back.

This is the third studio-style business opened by Adam Schmidt and his wife Sharon, who have brought their son Isaac Schmidt on as co-owner for the first time.

Luxe is home to an on-site cafe, interior design shop and studio, real estate agency, massage parlour, jeweler, beauty bar, acupuncturist and pilates studio.

“I’ve always loved Gympie because it’s an old traditional town,” Mr Schmidt said, having worked with the local Tom Grady real estate agency for years.

“I love the history, and I was looking for another property to do up, and I just came up here one day and started looking.

“This building was in very bad condition and had been on the market for a few years, and I thought I could do something with it.”

Mr Schmidt said it was not in his style to tear down buildings and redo them, but rather work with the existing structure and “do amazing finishes”.

Adam Schmidt and Isaac Schmidt, co-owners of the new Luxe Studios at 198 Mary Street, Gympie.

Much of the modern Mediterranean-style interior was done by Mr Schmidt himself, he said.

“All the tenants signed up early because we were able to validate what we’d done with our other businesses.”

Mr Schmidt also owns Vibe Stores and Mini Studios in Pomona.

He and wife have been in the small business sector for a long time, he said.

Gerard Irvine from U & I Co Fine Jewellery.

“I love businesses, and we have a really good relationship with our tenants.”

“I love the history of this end of Mary Street, I mean, look at the buildings.

“I don’t think people really appreciate the beauty of Gympie’s old historic buildings and houses, it’s amazing.”

Mr Schmidt said one of the business owners within Luxe Studios told him her customers had tripled since she moved in from across the street.

Simone Barter from Curate Interiors, whose business has reportedly tripled since moving into Luxe Studios from across the street.

Mr Schmidt said he had no reservations about bringing a slick new business to an historic town.

“I think clearly Gympie wanted this, there just wasn’t anyone who was prepared to invest like this, you know, we’ve spent a lot of money here,” he said.

Mr Schmidt said he hoped Luxe Studios had given other people confidence to invest in Gympie.

“Gympie’s on the up, it’s gone up a lot in the past three years, it’s a growing town,” he said.

“I don’t think Gympie knows what they’ve got here, they’re sitting on a gold mine.”