14 Toowoomba businesses open doors during coronavirus
While 2020 has not been the best year for local businesses, with job losses and forced closures at every turn. But here is a list of businesses who have successfully opened their doors this year.
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The global pandemic has been a knife in the sides of many local businesses, who were forced to close doors and let staff go during one of the most tumultuous years in history.
In October we published a list of businesses who defied the odds in 2020 to open up their new local shops.
Here is a list of other businesses in town who have successfully opened their doors during the pandemic.
Nepalese couple opens Revised Cafe at Toowoomba’s Wyalla Plaza, seven years after moving to Australia
After seven years of finding their feet in Australia, Santosh Paudel and Karishma Simkhada are back in business again and serving fresh coffees to locals.
The Nepalese chef and nurse have celebrated the opening of the Revised Cafe at Wyalla Plaza in Newtown, which will offer the best of Australian coffee house dining while mixing in some dishes from their home country.
It is a satisfying feeling for Mr Paudel, who sold his previous business in Nepal nearly a decade ago to move to Australia so Ms Simkhada could continue her studies.
KFC launches new store in Highfields, north of Toowoomba, creating dozens of new jobs
KFC Australia and franchise owner Collins Foods opened its newest location on the New England Highway at Highfields on November 25.
The building, which includes a drive-through and digital menu boards, has been under construction since the middle of the year.
However, the store won’t be open 24 hours a day as was previously reported, operating seven days a week from 10am until 10pm.
Wine down at city’s new paint and sip studio
The Sip Studio is the brainchild of Brooke Hughes, a former city resident who has found success in mixing business with art.
Opening on Friday, the venue offers a fun alternative to a night out on the town, allowing patrons to hone their painting skills while sharing a glass of wine with friends.
“It’s a great time to open, Toowoomba is growing, there are more people here, it’s more diverse and you have these cool new bars opening up,” Ms Hughes said.
New salon combines soothing services with energy healing
Having opened on Duggan st last month, WyldAlchemy has already proved popular with residents.
Owner, beauty therapist Janelle Smoothy, said she had always dreamt of opening a store and the ongoing pandemic had spurred her into action.
“I’ve been doing beauty for 12 years now and I absolutely love natural products,” Ms Smoothy said.
“I want to help people relax and I’m trying to keep my products and services as affordable as I can.
Highfields ALDI opens to shoppers after months of anticipation
After months of anticipation, the new Highfields ALDI opened to the public on December 14.
By 10.30am, the store was packed with happy shoppers, some of whom had been keeping tabs on its progress for months.
“I have been waiting for this moment,” Highfields customer Eshel Reich said.
New barber’s success story despite coronavirus challenges
Sarge Tirabzon is an adamant believer that if you truly love what you do for a living, you won’t work a day in your life, as the saying goes.
He has crafted a life in which he does what he loves for a living, and is able to give back to the community he cares about at the same time.
Mr Tirabzon opened up his own barber shop, Sarge’s, in April, while the rest of the community was closing its doors, and living just within their own four walls.
‘Stella standard’ of service available to city with new cafe opening
Making its mark on the hospitality scene in Toowoomba, the new Stellarossa has pledged to set itself apart from the rest.
Director Helaina Bench has owned cafes all around Queensland and New South Wales, but after spotting a Stellarossa branch near her former home at Mt Tamborine, decided to give the franchise a go when she moved back to Toowoomba with her family this year.
“I realised that it is really hard work for an independent operator and to have a bit of support from a brand was a beautiful idea especially at this scale of establishment,” she said.
Toowoomba mother-daughter duo put skills together to create cake decorating business
As a result of the recent drought and pandemic a Toowoomba woman has decided to diversify her organic produce business and branch out into baking and decorating.
Ronnie Branson, who owns Wilgavale Organic Wonders, has followed her passion and formed a new partnership with her daughter Katie Branson and launched Love and Flour Cake Creations.
This mother daughter team consolidated their skills through training with Mary Reid from Merivale Cakes in Highfields.
New machinery business has big plans for Toowoomba and Dalby
There’s a new player in the agricultural machinery sector in Queensland, but the owners behind the exciting venture are familiar faces to farmers across the Lockyer Valley.
STAG Machinery Group is poised to assume responsibility for the Case IH dealerships in Toowoomba and Dalby, previously operated by Wideland Ag.
This new business is the result of a partnership between Craig Brimblecombe of St George Machinery Centre, and Noel Baines owner of Ag Requirements in Gatton, both longstanding and highly-successful Case IH dealerships.
Local produce and people key to Toowoomba’s newest butcher
Bringing a new concept butcher store to Toowoomba has been a long-held dream of a couple who are strong advocates of the connection between paddock to plate.
Now that dream is becoming a reality for Luke and Michelle Jensen with the launch of the Meat Cellar at The Ridge Shoppingworld.
Meat Cellar brings a fresh, modern, state-of-the-art butcher which Mr Jensen describes as something “never before seen in Toowoomba or the Darling Downs.”
New online business celebrates life and sells stylish pieces for bubs
A new family-run business has launched in Toowoomba with the focus on celebrating new life.
After a year of late nights and planning Sahra Hintz has opened her online business thee bird.
Launching on December 1, the store sells a range of collections for bubs “made with the highest quality and love.”
New business launches with festive cupcakes and personalised present cake
A Toowoomba woman with incredible baking and cake decorating skills has just launched a business after years of encouragement from family, friends and customers.
Tahneea Hoffman has kicked off her business, Hoffcake Co, offering intricately decorated Christmas cupcakes as well as an amazing fondant gift-wrapped cake.
Ms Hoffman has been perfecting the art of cake decorating for 12 years and is proudly self-taught.
Chef turns passion for baking into full-time business
A Toowoomba chef’s decision to ramp up her business and take it full time has proven to be a success.
Amy’s Sweet Treats is an at-home based business which offers slices, fudge, cookies, custom cakes and cupcakes as well as other sweet treats.
Owned and operated by Amy Taylor, the mum is also a qualified chef and has always had a passion for baking.
New CBD wine bar ‘just what Toowoomba needs’
Just in time for the festive season the CBD’s newest wine and snack bar, Cork and Lever, has opened in Margaret St.
While the introduction of the new space has created much intrigue to passers-by, the idea behind the bar was inspired by recent events, and a focus on supporting Australian-made products.
With 2020 posing such a difficult year for independent winemakers, owner and operator Micha Whitley set out to create a space to showcase and support local artisans who have been affected by the events of 2020.
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