Woody’s Surf Shack closes due to Jonson St plaza redevelopment, Byron Bay
After the Byron Bay nightclubbing community strutted their stuff for the last time and kissed a beloved venue goodbye, its owner has opened up on why he shut the doors.
Regional News
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The owner behind beloved Byron Bay nightclub Woody’s Surf Shack has revealed he shut up shop to make way for an ambitious $57.2m mega development in the heart of the tourist town.
Housed in Jonson Street’s Byron Plaza, Woody’s became one of the town’s most frequented night-life haunts when it opened 13 years ago.
It closed its doors on March 9, going out with an “end of an era” bang, according to a social media post.
Sydney-based developer Luxcon Group are spearheading the redevelopment of the plaza with Bohemian, a three-storey, 44-apartment project with a mixed-retail offering.
The project was approved by council in May 2022 and sits on a 5390 sqm site adjacent to the Woolworths building on Jonson St.
But the project has been met with some frustration from the local community, who claimed it resembled a “meaningless Gold Coast-lite development” and that it detracted from “the essence of what Byron Bay is all about”.
Woody’s co-owner Loren Nowland said the last session on March 9 was “overwhelming” as customers flew back to Byron and groups of friends came back for one more time on the dancefloor.
“We were one of the last two shops left in the Plaza,” he said.
“This closure made us realise (Woody’s) was a social club for kids coming of age and travellers – and it was cool to hear all the stories of what that place meant to people over the years.
People doubted Woody’s would succeed when they first opened, Mr Nowland said.
“When we first arrived in 2010 and we were renovating, the number of people that would go by and tell us ‘nothing’s going to work here,’ because there had been seven bars in the 11 years before us,” he said.
“So we were really proud we had almost 14 full years of success and good times down there.”
Owners Loren Nowland, Caitlin Nowland, Bjourn Peterson and Peta Peterson also own Salt Water Social Club (SWSC) on Jonson St, where they say “the good times will keep rollin’”.
“All of our managers and staff from Woody's have migrated to the SWSC,” Mr Nowland said.
When the owners purchased SWSC two weeks before covid there was always anticipation that we knew Woody’s would close due to the future development, Mr Nowland said.
“Now with just SWSC we’ve moved a few pieces of memorabilia over there,” he said.
These included a hand painted map of the Byron Coastline, surfboards which hung on the roof for 13 years and a neon sign that hung behind the bar that said ‘pray for surf’ to keep the memory alive.
Bye-bye boogie: Mystery surrounds beloved Byron nightclub’s shock closure
It was the day disco died.
After locals tore up its d-floor and revelled in the party vibes for over a decade, a long-running Byron Bay club people say was their “second home with so many memories” has mysteriously shut its doors. `
The beloved Woody’s Surf Shack, nestled on bustling Byron’s Jonson St, has hit mute on its feel-good vibes after opening 13 years ago.
The nightclub, long-praised for its DJ sets and NYE parties, is one of the few late-night venues in the tourist township.
The club closed its doors on March 9, offering no explanation on social media besides a post with the words “end of an era”.
The announcement of the closure, accompanied by broken heart emojis, offered locals a reprieve by saying their “sister” Byron venue Saltwater Social Club, would “keep the good times rollin’”.
“That’s a wrap. Thirteen years of Woody’s. Until we see each other again,” it read.
“That’s all from the Surf Shack.”
Owners Loren Nowland, Caitlin Nowland, Bjourn Peterson and Peta Peterson also own Salt Water Social Club on Jonson St.
The Woody’s website states the venue was inspired by the surfers from the 1960s and 1970s who made The Pass, Wategos and Cosy Corner famous.
A Great Northern Hotel worker claimed the venue was great back in the day.
“From a local standpoint it’s been there for a long time and it’s a shame it’s closing,” they told NewsLocal.
The Byron Bay community took to Facebook to express their devastation about the closure.
“Woody’s! So sad to see you go! O.G Woody’s crew, 2010 was a good time!!” one user wrote.
“Byron isn’t Byron anymore. It’s all falling apart,” another user wrote.
“So many amazing memories here,” one chimed.
“Don’t know where I would be without this place,” another added.
One user said the place had “become my second home during my 20s”, with another saying “this Byron icon holds a special place in the hearts of thousands”.
Another user said the venue had served as a launch pad for some of Australia’s best-known DJs.
“Nothing like spending your late teens getting chook-eyed in this den! Sad to see it go,” one user wrote.
One person went as far to call the closure a “true Byron Bay tragedy”.
Several attempts have been made to contact the owners through both the Woody’s and Saltwater Social Club channels.
The closure comes as long-running Byron Bay family business Singhs Tyre and Mechanical had been forced to close due to a lack of suitable workers and soaring rental costs in town.
Established Byron Bay restaurant Foxy Luu’s shut its doors last year to find a new home, with owners opening up on the challenges of running a business in the evolving tourism hub.
Foxy Luu’s was located in the same Johnson St plaza as Woody’s Surf Shack.
Got a story tip? Email savannah.pocock@news.com.au or sam.stolz@news.com.au
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