Country Road opens resort store with cafe, gardens in Sorrento

ICONIC Australian retailer Country Road has opened its first resort store and complete lifestyle concept with a cafe, kitchen and extensive gardens.

Country Road managing director, Sophie Holt pictured with model Jena. Picture: Jason Sammon

ICONIC Australian retailer Country Road has opened its first resort store and complete lifestyle concept with a cafe, kitchen and extensive gardens in the historic Sorrento Post Office.

Country Road managing director Sophie Holt says the new store redefines traditional retail concepts and is part of the brand’s push to engage customers with a new in-store experience.

“Our Sorrento store has been designed to feel as though you have stepped into a family home. Each room has its own character and with the addition of a cafe and gardens we have created a real life expression of Country Road,” she says.

“It’s a very welcoming store and feels like you’ve stepped into a friend’s home.”

The cafe at Country Road Sorrento will be known as POST 3943 and is a collaboration with local organic cafe The Sisters.

The surrounding gardens, which include a vegetable patch, will supply homegrown herbs and fresh produce daily to the cafe.

“This is what I had dreamt of, a full experience of the Country Road lifestyle,” Holt says.

There are plans to roll the concept out in other appropriate locations around the country.

“The high foot traffic over the opening weekend only strengthens the argument that Australians love to shop this way, in a concept space with a very strong lifestyle message,” Holt says.

Originally published as Country Road opens resort store with cafe, gardens in Sorrento