Jess Pullar
There is a buzz of activity inside Bridge Street’s unique daytime businesses, operating mere metres from the dark nightclubs dotted down the road. And as these retailers thrive, more are joining the party.
New, quirky business owners are taking to that section of the street. Some call it rebellion, others say it’s just good business. Whatever it is, these retailers, old and new, are making it work.
The Hollow
Nelson’s first dedicated tea shop owners Ishna Jacobs and Daniel Moon can’t quite work out whether people like their tea itself, or simply the idea of drinking tea on Bridge St.
‘‘It’s neat that people drink cups of tea sitting at the window while they look across at people drinking beer,’’ says Moon.
‘‘People come here almost in rebellion – they’re like ‘‘yea I’m on Bridge St and I’m drinking tea’’,’’ says Jacobs.
The pair opened the store in June and have been thrilled with the response since.
‘‘We love it [on Bridge St], it’s really interesting, there’s a great diversity of people,’’ says Jacobs.
The tea store is a quiet haven for those after a peaceful study session or a friendly catch-up. Once inside, it’s hard to believe that rowdy nightclubs could exist in the same vicinity.
Their arrival made quite the statement on the street known for late-night partiers who are often after a drink a little stronger than tea. But The Hollow’s success should be seen as a sign of good things to come, says Jacobs.
‘‘Once we’ve put our neck on the chopping board it sort of encourages other people to see that we’ve done it so they could too.’’
Jacobs says the street has a positive future – some business owners had come into the store to enquire about spaces to open a restaurant on the street.
‘‘It’s going to get more interesting, once the Suter [Art Gallery on Bridge St] reopens there will be more foot traffic coming from that way,’’ she says.
‘‘I’m excited to see what new tenants will come here.’’
The pair said while they had no fears about opening anywhere in town, the costs to lease on Bridge St had also been an attractive feature.
Bridge St businesses also have a ‘‘local feel’’, says Moon. Where other businesses in town cater to big tourist numbers in the city, individually-owned Bridge St stores have a community atmosphere that invites both locals and out-of towners.
‘‘Down here it’s not all set out for tourists – you can come here and just have a chat with a local,’’ says Moon.
The Bridge Street Collective
It was lucky Nelson businessman Galen King ignored warnings when he found the empty space that is now a lively co-working hub – the Bridge Street Collective.
‘‘Many people advised me against buying a building on Bridge St so close to the clubs and pubs,’’ he says. ‘‘But the building had undeniable character and potential and was perfect for the vision I had.’’
That vision has grown over four years into a space for businesses, artists and caffeine addicts alike. He says all have benefited from the coworking space.
The building is now a business hub, complete with a cafe and bright window signage.
King says the street has grown substantially in his time at the Collective.
‘‘There were several empty shops when we first moved in and it did feel like a bit of the ghettoend of Nelson,’’ he says.
‘‘I have always thought parts of town that people avoid and where buildings are old and run-down have the most potential.’’
King also has plans for the empty space next door – he intends to ‘‘dramatically increase’’ the vibrancy of the street and make it into a place where people can hang out.
In doing this, his hope is that others will follow suit. He says the council should push for more destination spaces on the street where people can hang out rather than using it as a thoroughfare.
‘‘I’ve felt that our block of Bridge Street could become a really neat part of the city,’’ he says.
Woodlea Floral Studio
This colourful little store spreads its presence onto the street in the form of a flower-adorned bicycle.
The Woodlea Floral Studio owner Astrid Jansens said the flower business, which has thrived on Bridge St for years, has never been concerned about the nightclubs opposite.
‘‘We don’t notice them much, I think we’re in a good place [on Bridge St],’’ she says.
Jansens, who has owned the store for six years, has noticed a lot of growth and change on the street in her time.
She said new businesses like hairdressers Cardells, The Bridge St Collective and Ecomoon have livened the street during the day.
The range of businesses has also resulted in a varied customer base that has benefited all.
‘‘The foot traffic has increased – we get a lot of different types of customers,’’ she says.
I think it’s a good place, it’s improved over the last two years with new businesses coming in,’’
‘‘[Bridge St] is definitely growing.’’
Ecomoon Boutique
This store poses possibly the greatest contrast to the nightclubs it stands opposite from.
Mothers, fathers and toddlers all frequent the brightly-lit store that is filled with all things baby.
‘‘It’s great here, there’s lots of foot traffic,’’ says store manager Leanne Morrison.
She said while the carpark on Buxton Square out the back of the store is handy for families coming into the store, there are plenty of people who walk in from the street.
‘‘For us the foot traffic is a big thing,’’ she says.
‘‘Bridge St is a good business hub.’’
A view from the store’s wide, bright windows is of dark, paintchipped bars but this does not have any affect on Ecomoon’s clientele.
‘‘No one is [at the bars] during the day anyway,’’ says Morrison.
She said there was a good sense of community among the street’s businesses.
‘‘Because there are lots of little locally owned shops we all help each other out.’’
Maru Japanese and Korean
A lime-green room with a friendly welcome is an assuring sign to hungry Nelsonians as they walk through the doors of this Bridge St food establishment.
Owners Jason Bae and Jessie Lee have recently taken over the sushi store and renamed it Maru.
In taking ownership, the pair have added a new cuisine to the Japanese menu – Korean.
‘‘There are many people in the Korean community here, so we thought it would be a good place to bring [Korean food],’’ says Bae.
The pair had been wanting to buy a business for a while, and saw an advantage in embracing Japanese food.
‘‘We wanted to go into a food business and we knew that Japanese food was very popular in New Zealand,’’ he says.
Their challenge was finding a location, and when the space on Bridge St came available there was no question.
‘‘It’s a very popular area and close to the bus station.’’
They were not fazed by their close proximity to the street’s bars.
Since taking over in September they have been pleased with the popularity of their food.
The pair are continuing to test the market with plans to expand their opening hours into the evenings for what they hope will be a busy summer.