Geelong businesses closures send shockwaves through community, but leaders say things are looking up
A Geelong business leader says one key indicator is pointing to a “robust” bounce-back despite a surge in vacant tenancies in the CBD in just two months.
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Recent closures of beloved Geelong businesses have sent shockwaves through the community, but an industry leader says the city well-positioned for a “robust” bounce-back.
Despite the increasingly bare shopfronts combined with a lack of office workers bringing the CBD to life, Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Ben Flynn said he was buoyant about things in the region.
“There has actually been the highest level of new business registrations ever, and I got that information last year off the economic development unit, so we know people are starting businesses,” he said.
“It is probably just unfortunate that not enough people are working in the city.”
On the increase in registrations, Mr Flynn noted the flexibility in small businesses with more people working in all “different scenarios,” which may attribute to the reduction in commercial properties in the City.
“I still think the CBD in terms of shopfronts has a strong future, given the huge population growth,” he said.
“We just need to get people back into offices and to support local businesses.”
He said the tourism and hospitality industries are continuing to be impacted by the pandemic while construction, professional services and manufacturing are going strong across the region.
The boost in business registrations could help fill the city’s worsening rate of empty shopfronts in Geelong CBD.
The Geelong Advertiser this week identified 50 ground level stores were left vacant across Ryrie, Moorabool, Malop and Little Malop streets, compared to the 40 empty shops counted on December 1.
Moorabool St remains the hardest hit with 19 stores unoccupied, one more than in December.
A further two empty shops were counted in Ryrie St, bringing its total number of vacant shopfronts to 12.
Malop St now has 12 empty shops, up from seven in December and Little Malop St has two more unoccupied stores, bringing its total to seven.
City of Greater Geelong councillor Eddy Kontelj said businesses returning to the office at some capacity will be critical for the many small businesses still struggling.
“Bottom line we need people back in the CBD and working in the CBD,” he said.
“We understand it is a different environment now and more and more businesses are offering flexible work arrangements which is great but we still need people in the CBD to maintain some sort of modest trade. The state government need to make that call.”
Cr Kontelj said there is still “positivity on the horizon” for Geelong’s central businesses, with council taking a targeted approach to increase visitation.
“We are doing a lot in terms of trying to attract major events and initiatives that will increase exposure,” he said.
“Surrounds Sounds for example is attracting Australian artists to Geelong over period of a month, playing at local venues.
“As long as we can get people into those venues and work through Covid restrictions, then yes there can be real positivity again.”
Business closures that sent shockwaves through community
CAFE BEAR & SCOOBS
The Geelong Community was left devastated after the popular North Geelong cafe announced it would permanently close its doors following a challenging two years.
Remembered for the friendly staff and its signature award-winning treats, co-owners Mark Butcher and David Scoble confirmed via social media that the cafe been placed into “voluntary liquidation” on January 31.
“We (can) genuinely say we loved every minute of the six years we had at Café Bear & Scoobs as hard and tough as it has been we made life long friends both customers and staff.”
Mr Butcher said the business was around $100,000 in debt due to loans taken out to survive, with business losses during the snap February 2021 lockdown adding up to more than $50,000.
Cafe Bears & Scoobs was also offering crucial training opportunity to people with disabilities in partnership with Gateways Support Service.
MOO MOUTH
Moo Mouth Coffee officially closed its doors in late December, 2021 after telling the Geelong Advertiser it would be a long road ahead for local cafes.
In July, 2020 owner Meredith McKee revealed the Little Malop St venue had suffered a 40 per cent decrease in patronage as the coronavirus pandemic emptied central Geelong’s offices and streets.
Ms McKee had been relying on JobKeeper to stay afloat.
THE WORKERS CLUB GEELONG
In February 2021, live music fans said goodbye to The Workers Club.
Located on Little Malop St the venue had played host to big names like Gang of Youths, Passenger, Thirsty Merc, Client Liaison and Northeast Party House, all over its six years in operation.
At the time, owner Steven Nichols announced the venue would be closing its doors after the entertainment industry was “decimated” by the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is with a heavy heart that a full stop comes to the end of this chapter – the closing of the doors of The Workers Club Geelong,” he said.
“After struggling through COVID-19 within a decimated music industry and grieving the loss of my father and adviser, the decision has been made to focus a little more on – life.”
He said losing 65 tour dates within a two-day period at the start of the pandemic was devastating.
BIG EARS
The Little Malop St bar was only open for a little over 12 months but created a huge stir when it shut down in July 2019.
Big Ears specialised in a mega selection of craft beer for patrons.
A tenancy dispute was behind the shock closure.
News of the closure created a huge outcry on social media, while dozens of patrons spilled into the street when Big Ears held its swansong closing down party.
Owner Aaron Skinner at the time hinted the business could return in some form in the future.
SPEAKYS
The Geelong surf shop went into liquidation in 2019, bringing plenty of sadness to the community.
The business Speaky Pty Ltd, which was based in Little Malop St and was known for its classic Holden on display, had owed 20 creditors up to $400,000.
Terry ‘Speaky’ Lyons, founded the brand in 1969, opening his first store at the age of 21 in Torquay before opening two stores in Geelong.
But it wasn’t before long a new entity of the same name, run by Nathan Lyons, was operating in Market Square shopping centre, to keep the brand alive.
DIMMEYS
The nationwide shutdown of Dimmeys caused a huge outcry in Geelong, as it said goodbye to its iconic city location.
Dimmeys was the latest tenant in the historic building, which prior to becoming a retail site in the mid-1980s, was the site of what was once the beautiful old Regent Theatre.
Hamilton Group acquired the building for $2.7m in 2019, and the revitalisation is well underway.
GEELONG REGION BANK BRANCHES SHUT DOWN
Geelong has lost at least six bank branches during the pandemic as more people are now completing their banking online.
In September 2021, it was revealed Westpac would close its Newcomb Central branch, while in July 2021, it was reported that Commonwealth Bank closed its Highton branch.
Over the course of the pandemic ANZ has uprooted branches in Corio and Torquay, Westpac dropped its Belmont branch in May 2021 and Bendigo Bank left Queenscliff in November 2020.
All banks have been reviewing how and where they offer physical branches and traditional over-the counter operations are giving way to new approaches.
A NAB branch located in Wyndham St, Drysdale is also set to close on March 13, 2022.
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