By Andrew Starke
A new small bar called Grasshopper and a new gallery and coffee shop will soon help enliven two Sydney CBD laneways if, as expected, council approves the developments on Monday (Feb 22).
If approved, the projects will become the second and third recipients of matched cash grants under the City’s Laneways Business Development Program.
The Laneways Business Development Program is a merit based, grant program providing matched cash funding to businesses of up to $30,000.
“Enlivening laneways is part of Sustainable Sydney 2030, which is helping to create a more vibrant city centre and enhance and diversify these normally disused forgotten spaces,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.
“Sydneysiders are embracing Sydney’s new small bar culture with 22 new bars now operating in the City, but we also want other small-scale businesses to consider reactivating our laneways as interesting new spaces in the city centre.”
If approved, Scudooda Pty Ltd will use the matched-cash grant along with reused and recycled materials to fit out a vacant building and create a new small bar called Grasshopper.
The bar will trade onto Temperance Lane, reactivating the previously disused laneway and creating a new space for emerging artists to display their works.
The same operators ran the Seven Metre Bar in Underwood Street which was part of the City’s By George! temporary art project in eight CBD laneways.
“We’re keen to hear from more small business entrepreneurs with small-scale, diverse and unique business ideas, particularly for undersupplied or non-existent products who want help in setting up in the finegrain of Sydney’s CBD laneways,” said Moore.