|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
January, 2022 During times when reducing budgets and working in a smallerenvironment are key, commercial space in the artisan-style, character retail precinct of restored holiday cabins at Frankton has been in hot demand. The Country Lane concept has been developed in the past few years by Tineke Enright and her brother, Bruce Grant. Their father, Bill Grant, is a fifth generation local, and a fourth generation Frankton farmer on the site. The Grant family bought and rescued old holiday cabins that had to be moved to make way for redevelopment of the Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park, moving them onto their land. Theyve been strategically placed to create a quaint, indoor outdoor space where customers can meander in and out of each store or studio, as well as enjoying a sweet treat and coffee in the sun along the way. With local businesses and artists already operating from five restored former Queenstown Camping Ground cabins on the sunny site, Tineke says they have a waiting list of others in the queue. The Lane only opened in November last year, but Tineke has been operating her Pretty Kiwi childrens clothing brand from the farms renovated barn on the site for about 10 years with Buzzstop launching about five years later. The Barn is a collaboration between Tineke with her label, Sugar Trading and Lusso Boutique. Interest has grown since the relocated holiday cribs have been transformed into a fun artisan-style, boutique showcase for local businesses, says Tineke. People are constantly phoning, or emailing us, and wanting spaces. The five we have now were signed up months ago. We have a waiting list now, but not everybody is the right fit. People are definitely wanting space and theres demand for using recycled buildings and materials, she says. Were following our sustainable ethos, and going for a more original, natural aesthetic. Not only have they saved the old cribs, but theyve repurposed an important era in the Wakatipus history. While the rentals per square metre are close to market rate, Tineke says businesspeople seem keen to secure much smaller commercial spaces so that theyre not paying for square meterage they dont need. They want a smaller boutique space. Tineke and Bruce couldve built the cabins for much cheaper, but wouldnt have achieved the same character. Weve retained the original timber and T & G flooring, relined and re-lacquered them. We just loved the character of the old cribs. Tineke says they wanted to use as many recycled materials as possible. Old roofing iron from the Queenstown Holiday Park communal facilities was retrieved and used to reclad some of the cabins. Studio 42 is a contemporary jewellery collective between talented local creatives Jessica Winchcombe, Julie Wingate and Aline Heinz, and Sam Mayell Ceramic Studios is busy working the wheel on his stoneware ceramics. Both studios offer daily workshops teaching jewellery making and ceramic hand building and clay throwing, six days a week, which have been very popular. Cocos Cabin is a joint venture between Tineke and her friend, Jo Omeros, featuring second hand label and vintage clothing. We sell on behalf of, or people can drop off second hand clothing, and we pay 50 percent once it sells with sellers indicating their price. The Burrowed Bontanicals and All Bunched up fresh flowers offer in home or business plants, all managed, and beautiful fresh bouquets, with many flowers secured from Tinekes mum Tillys beautiful adjacent garden. Sugary Patisserie, run by Brazilian pastry chefs Sheila Mederos and Natalia Rodrigues, turns out all manner of tasty treats little Brownie sandwiches, mini grape and vanilla tarts, glass cake tubs, mousses, cheesecakes, croissants and the like. Their amazing birthday cakes are in hot demand too. Outdoor tables add to the atmosphere. Bright Ink mobile bookshop parks up regularly too, selling a great selection of second hand books. Theres even a massage business Wakatipu Massage, and Posh Paws dog pampering and grooming on site. Buzzstop Honey Centre and Café is also now home to the Mount Michael Wines tasting room and Ride to the Sky e-bike tours are based in the precinct. Its now time to expand further and Tineke and Bruce are hoping the Queenstown Lakes District Council will allow them to move the old Queenstown Arts Centre buildings from the former Queenstown and Districts High School site in Stanley Street. Potentially, were hoping to bring them out here and the existing artists with them. Theyd fit perfectly with the character of what were doing here, she says. Theyre also planning a more purpose-built hospitality building over the back of the Grant familys old orchard, which could possibly house a few restaurants. We want to build a big kids play area and expand the small one we now have, adding more specialist play equipment, she says. Source: Lakes Weekly News
|
||
|
+64 27 444 1104
|
||