Fears Stones Corner shopping strip is in crisis

VACANT shopfronts line the main street of this Brisbane suburb and traders fear the situation will get worse unless they can breathe new life into the once-bustling strip.

• Trendy suburb needs to reclaim retail mojo

VACANT shopfronts line the main street of Stones Corner and traders fear the situation will get worse unless they can breathe new life into the once-bustling shopping strip.

The iconic street has almost 20 empty shops — a far cry from what local traders call “pre-DFO” days, when the strip bustled with shoppers.

Almost 20 empty shops line Stones Corner’s high street, a far cry from its once-bustling village atmosphere. Picture: Richard Walker

“You can’t help but notice it. It’s quite obvious, there are a lot of empty shops at the moment,” business owner Lynnette Johnson said.

She has leased a space on the high street for her business, Stones Corner Flower Shop, for almost three years and believes the vacancies have been caused by a combination of factors.

Vacant shops now line the suburb’s high street. Picture: Richard Walker

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An oversupply of new unit blocks had stalled planned retail/residential developments in the high street, she said.

Vacant shopfronts in Stones Corner Village. Photo: Kristy Muir

The problem had been compounded by the fact a number of landlords had not renewed leases, in anticipation of the planned developments.

All that at a time when the economy suffered a downturn.

Stones Corner Village vacant shopfronts. Photo: Kristy Muir

“A lot of the proposed development has been put on hold for the time being,” Ms Johnson said.

“So a lot of these shops were vacated because there were proposed units above the retail.”

Our Stones Corner president Rebecca Osborne has leased her shop, Osborne and Co, next door to Ms Johnson for two years.

Our Stones Corner president Rebecca Osborne has leased a shop on the high street for two years. Picture: Richard Walker

She said if landlords offered shorter leases, it would help bring people back to the street.

“Landlords need to be a bit more open to short-term leases and pop-up shops and thinking short term for long-term goals,” she said.

“Many want a five-year lease, but if you can get bums in seats it’s going to be better for everyone.”

Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Johnson agreed.

“The face of retail is changing, it’s not just brick and mortar stores,” she said.

“Traditional retail just doesn’t exist, you’ve really got to think outside the box.”

The group has plans to bring the Village Markets from Burleigh Heads as a regular fixture in the street.

Traders are Richard Walker)

“We’re just trying to do anything we can to get Stone’s Corner back on the map and bring our little high street back,” Ms Osborne said.

It is a plight shared by local and state government.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said that Council last year launched a dedicated local business strategy for Stones Corner as part of the Local Business Partnership Initiative.

The council has also delivered new foreign language Way-Finder street signs to help visitors easily find their around way around places of interest. Picture: Richard Walker

“Stones Corner is also benefiting from free Council wi-fi, allowing visitors to stay connected as they move around and browse the stores of this popular precinct,” he said.

Mr Quirk said he believed speed limits dropping to 40km/hr in the precinct would “increase safety and encourage more pedestrians into the precinct”.

Stones Corner was officially made its own suburb again late last year. Picture: Patria Jannides

State Labor MP for Greenslopes Joe Kelly helped the suburb reclaim its postcode last year.

He said the problems faced were not unique to Stones Corner but he believed it could return to its former glory.

“Like all areas of retail, there many challenges facing Stones Corner,” Mr Kelly said.

“However, there are many businesses that are well established and with the growing population density and improving public transport links, the overall outlook for this area is positive.

“Stones Corner … is certainly an iconic and valuable part of our community, its future will be as bright as its past.”

The power of a postcode

They had to fight to reclaim their postcode, but now the smallest suburb in Brisbane is a suburb once more — and local businesses couldn’t be happier.

The iconic Stones Corner sign. Picture: Richard Walker

Stones Corner was recognised as a suburb until 1975, when it was absorbed by Greenslopes.

Following a two-year campaign by local businesses, councillors and politicians, Stones Corner was officially made a suburb again in the publication of the State Government Gazette last November.

Our Stones Corner president Rebecca Osborne. Picture: Richard Walker

President of the Our Stones Corner group Rebecca Osborne said prior to November, there was a lot of confusion when people tried to find local businesses.

“We didn’t exist on Google Maps,” Ms Osborne said.

“Things take time but I think that’s definitely a step in the right direction to have our own identity.”

THE MAN WHO PUT THE STONE IN CORNER

Coorparoo councillor Ian Mackenzie said an “overwhelming” number of residents wanted the change and it took a dedicated campaign.

“Putting Stones Corner back on the map was a critical step in drawing people back to the local area,” he said.