New life for Kwong Sang Walk laneway
THE much-anticipated Oaks Hotel opened last week, and along with it came a refurb of the adjoining Kwong Sang Walk.
As part of the Oaks Hotel construction, owner Kenneth Wagner transformed Kwong Sang Walk into a dining and retail laneway.
So far, the laneway is home to three retailers including Ivy Designer Collections and Profile Hair Design, two businesses which chose to relocate from their former CBD locations.
The third is brand new for Toowoomba, the Oak and Vine Café which is owned and operated by the Oaks Hotel.
The cafe is set underneath the hotel. It’s designed for hotel patrons to grab a coffee and something to eat during the day, as well being open to the public.
A boutique liquor store will also be opening later this year.
Anna Sillett owns Ivy Designer Collections, after buying the business from the founding owner Catherine Kirkwood in 2013.
It was previously in Margaret St but the doors to the store closed over the Easter weekend, and five weeks ago the boutique opened in Kwong Sang Walk.
Ivy is a clothing boutique offering a collection of exclusive, high-end Australian and international brands.
“We felt like it was to time for a change,” she said.
“We wanted to refresh our space and keep our Ivy community excited.
“I love the laneway. It’s bringing the community to an area of the CBD that was once unused.
“It’s creating a new lifestyle for the Toowoomba community.
“It’s nice seeing people using the benches in the laneway, reading the newspaper or a book, or enjoying a coffee with friends.
“It also has great potential to host community events, like night markets.”
Ms Sillett said she felt lucky having wonderful neighbouring businesses such as Profile Hair and Oak and Vine Café.
She said she was looking forward to seeing old and new customers in store.
“We have a wide range of beautiful local Australia and international brands made ethically from gorgeous natural fabrics,” she said.
“What we don’t do is fast fashion because we believe buying quality is better for the customer and better for our world.”