The Shack Cafe Penrith reopens with daring new $50,000 graffiti paint job

A western Sydney cafe has dropped a whopping $50,000 on a controversial paint job, which has sent locals into a spin ahead of the venue’s highly anticipated re-opening.

A western Sydney cafe has dropped a massive $50,000 on a controversial new paint job – covering the entire shopfront in ‘Melbourne-inspired’ graffiti art – and sending neighbours into a spin ahead of its re-opening.

Owner Stephen Ajami told The Daily Telegraph his vision was to recreate the iconic Hosier Lane in the Melbourne CBD by commissioning an artist to coat the building – inside and out – in street art.

“What I really wanted was to bring something to Penrith no one’s brought before,” he said. “Its time to start a new hip era for us as an up-and-coming-city and bring that Melbourne inspired theme.”

Newly decorated The Shack, in Lemongrove.

The western Sydney businessman hired Melbourne-based street artist Billie Jean, whose previous work has been commissioned for U.S. hip hop heavy weights Slick Rick and J Dilla.

The artist described the job as “daunting” and his “biggest shop ever” which took him four weeks to complete.

“I think it’s a pretty risky move to put it in the middle of Penrith,” he said. “But its definitely turning heads and that was the main purpose.”

The Shack owner Steve Ajami.

While the news of The Shack’s return has been received positively across the board, its paint job has split public opinion, with some claiming the look is “off-putting” and resembles an “abandoned skate park” while others have praised its “street vibe”.

Melbourne based graffiti artist Billie Jean Picture: Supplied

One woman who lives on the same street complained the new fit-out “looked like a slum”.

“It’s handy to have on our street but its sad the shop looks like a slum, if they were going for a hip Melbourne look they failed,” she said.

Another woman wrote she was “willing to look past the graffiti” because of the quality vegan options available, while one man said he thought the store had been “abandoned and vandalised”.

The Shack in penrith has had a $50,000 Graffiti paint job.

Neighbouring shopkeeper Ali, who runs The Crescent Mini Mart, says he hopes the new look will be good for business by bringing more people to the area.

“We need more business in the area and if people come around just to see the shop then its good for the community, I don’t know what other people will say but I think it’s great”.

The soon-to-be reopened Shack Cafe aims to revive its health food options with a range of health food and vegan-friendly options.