New businesses set to give bayside a major boost after COVID-19 struggles

It’s not all doom and gloom for shoppers in Brisbane suburbs, despite a large number of empty shops, with a bunch of new businesses moving into this key retail area in the east. SUBSCRIBE TO SEE THE LIST OF WHAT’S COMING.

A NEW coffee, cake and ice cream shop is among the new businesses giving Brisbane’s bayside a major boost.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen many business districts struggle, with one in 10 shops closing in some areas of southeast Queensland.

And the bayside isn’t any different.

‘For lease’ signs have littered almost 20 shopfronts in the Wynnum CBD in recent weeks as the global coronavirus pandemic pushed the pause button on more retail shops coming to the area.

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But Kevin Stewart from Lamonds Real Estate in Wynnum said it was already starting to turn around after finalising deals for six new businesses to come to the bayside in the past two weeks.

Wynnum real estate agent Kevin Stewart from Lamonds Real Estate expects more new businesses to move into the area. Picture: AAP/Sarah Marshall

The new businesses coming to Wynnum Central include a coffee, cake and ice cream store, a learning centre and a Dolls and Doilies arts and crafts shop.

A new hairdresser and bottle shop have moved into locations on Sibley Rd at Wynnum West, a trailer and prime mover hire company in Lytton and an airconditioning business is starting up in Hemmant.

“I’ve been surprised to be honest, the last few weeks have been crazy in the bayside area, I thought it would take longer than this to bounce back,” Mr Stewart said.

One of the empty shops in Wynnum CBD.

“I have also received interest for a bunch of other places, it’s great to see.

“Obviously the past few months have been tough for businesses and you’ve seen it here as well with shops empty but I think that will all change soon because of the developments, such as the Wynnum Cinema, happening in the area.”

Mr Stewart said he believed the trend of new developments on the bayside would also continue despite COVID-19 after selling several sites in recent weeks.

One of the empty shops in Wynnum CBD.

Marika Suhr, the director of Phoenix Learning – a business based at Capalaba which specialises in adult education and is moving into a location on Bay Tce this week, said the opportunity to open a second location in Wynnum was too good to pass up.

“We probably weren’t prepared to open another location but then this opportunity came up,” she said.

“Even though these COVID times have been horrendous for businesses, this was just perfect for us and we’re excited to come to Wynnum and give the area a boost.”

General Manager of Wynnum Business, David Bateson. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

Despite the positive turn, Mr Stewart said recent months have been tough with up to 80 per cent of businesses in his listings asking for some sort of rental assistance.

General manager of Wynnum Business David Bateson said COVID-19 also put a hold on projects with the Brisbane City Council to fill the empty shops in the CBD.

He also said several businesses used the downtime to renovate their stores.