Lisa Durand’s The Kewpie Cupboard to hit Palmerin Street this weekend

A Warwick business owner is set to turn her thriving online store into the newest retailer on Palmerin Street. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the grand opening.

Palmerin St in Warwick.

When a prime retail on Palmerin Street was suddenly up for grabs, Warwick business owner Lisa Durand knew it was the opportunity she’d been waiting for to bring her online store into the community.

Ms Durand was inspired to launch The Kewpie Cupboard a decade ago while travelling across Brisbane and southeast Queensland to car shows and events, which was the easiest way to track down her favourite rockabilly and vintage fashion.

She said it suddenly clicked for her that instead of buying the clothing from other people, she could start her own online business and deliver it to customers from all over the state.

“Rockabilly can mean all sorts of things, it isn’t just 1950s stuff. It can be goth stuff, or cowboy, or anything like that - it all just merges together,” Ms Durand said.

“When you go to those kinds of festivals, which are usually in Brisbane and up and down the coast, people are wearing all sorts of stuff and not following the trends.

“It’s about being true to yourself. Don’t be afraid that someone else is going to point at you or say what you’re wearing is weird - embrace the weird!”

The Kewpie Cupboard will be the newest store to open its doors on Palmerin St, Warwick this weekend.

Ms Durand already boasts a 22,000-strong Facebook following and booming online customer base, but says she’s always struggled to tap into the Warwick market.

She said increasing diversity with an influx of newcomers to the community during Covid and a growing demand for more eccentric and size-inclusive clothing gave her the confidence to start looking for a brick-and-mortar retail spot in town.

When the Palmerin Street space formerly occupied by Stephanie’s Lingerie hit the market earlier this year, she knew it was too good an opportunity to refuse.

“It was so good that I ended up scoring that shop, it’s just fantastic. I just had to take the plunge and follow my dreams, because I knew if I didn’t do it now then I never would,” Ms Durand said.

“We stock a range of 1950s-style dresses all the way up to more modern clothing. We also do stuff that’s goth-related, so a lot of black, and we’ve got guys’ clothing as well which is mainly hot rod and tattoo shirts.

“A lot of people don’t even know that I’m based here in Warwick, but we look forward to seeing everyone come down on Saturday.”

The Kewpie Cupboard’s grand opening will kick off at 9am Saturday at 11A Palmerin Street, Warwick.

Click here to visit the store’s Facebook page.