85-YEAR STINT IN CITY CENTRE COMES TO END FOR RETAILER

ONE of the longest-running businesses in Cairns’ city centre is shutting its doors after 85 years to make way for a major development.

Van Dorssen’s Tobacconist and Gifts has served the CBD over three generations of the Van Dorssen family, and was an original tenant of the Katies Centre, after moving to the corner of Abbott and Shield streets 40 years ago.

The Katies Centre is now set to undergo a complete overhaul, which will result in Van Dorssen’s closing down at the end of the month to make room for new businesses.

The building, which was sold for $7 million in January, will be redeveloped to turn its existing nine tenancies into four, including a new indoor “entertainment arcade”.

Van Dorssen’s owner Chris Van Dorssen, whose grandfather Richard opened the business as a barber and tobacconist in the foyer of Hides Hotel in 1934, said it was the end of an era.

“We don’t know what our options are at this stage,” he said. “We could move down the road, but we’re not going to rush into anything too suddenly.

“We’ll just have a look at what’s happening, and see what can be done.

“But as they say, one door closes and another one opens.”

Mr Dorssen’s father, Lionel, took on the business as tourism started to shape Cairns as a major international visitor destination about 20 years ago.

He introduced new lines of giftware and souvenirs.

Chris later introduced services such as an ATM, money exchange, MoneyGram, and an Australia Post agency.

In recent years, one of the shop’s biggest sellers has been a men’s cartoon crocodile head G-string, proudly displayed on a mannequin’s torso.

“Over the 85 years of operation, we have seen many retail changes in the business offering, with the need to stay relevant to market desire with new and ever-changing product lines, always adding new trending demand services to sustain and grow the business,” Mr Van Dorssen said.

“We have evolved and moved with the times.”

He said that despite the business closure, there was still a bright future ahead for retail in Cairns’ CBD, particularly with several buildings being developed.

“This might end up still being the golden block, as it used to,” he said.