World at their feet
A 312sq m strata- titled warehouse and office space at Unit 6/ 45 Keane St has sold for $ 272,500 through Shaun McLaren of Colliers International. A 3036sq m parcel of vacant development land at 14 to 18 Barnard St, Aitkenvale, has sold ahead of auction for $ 721,000 through Shelley Murray of LJ Hooker Townsville. WHETHER you are On Your Feet or Off Your Feet, Paul Day and Su Lora have you covered.
The venturers have opened a running shop at West End, called On Your Feet, and with a vacancy emerging next door in the commercial premises at Stagpole St, they have decided to open a coffee shop, called Off Your Feet.
They hope the new outlets will be popular with running and walking enthusiasts, both as a destination and for people looking for an alternative for taking on the Castle Hill climb, as well as with local people.
Most climbers take on the hill from North Ward where parking is at a premium but the venturers say there are walking tracks from West End.
Mr Day, a sports massage therapist, said he had looked to diversify his business interests by selling running shoes and apparel and had operated for some time from home.
He said the home business started to take over their living arrangements and they began looking at premises on major arterial roads to rent until Su noticed the Stagpole St shops.
They opened the running outlet about two months ago and when the shop next door became available it all just seemed to be the perfect fit.
“It just seemed to be place,” Mr Day said.
“It has the outlook to the hill and it’s an easy to place to find with a lot of parking.”
So Paul will run On Your Feet and Su will run Off Your Feet.
Su said she was excited by the opportunity and planned to operate what they believed would be Townsville’s “environmental cafe”.
They also plan to provide outdoor seating.
“The plan is we are going to have as close to zero waste as we can be,” Su said.
Ray White Commercial agent Tony Parker said the shops should complement other businesses in the area with a hairdresser, gym and hotel nearby.
“The area is getting a funky inner- city vibe so these new shops should work well,” Mr Parker said.
He said the owner of the first shops at 57 Stagpole St was also investing in the premises with some painting and upgrade of services.
Mr Parker said activity in the leasing market appeared to be picking up on the back of major projects.
“There seems to be a little bit of take- up of space and absorption of vacancies,” Mr Parker said.
“It may impact rental rates but I think that’s still a while away.
“Most businesses I’m talking to are looking to employ people which is very positive.”