The façade upgrade at Ipswich’s very own 50s styled Retro Diner is now complete, with a new lightbox and colour-scheme to match the look on Brisbane Street.
The themed restaurant is one of eleven CBD businesses undergoing a facelift as part of Council’s $137,000 Pilot Façade Improvement Program.
CJ Vogler & Son, heritage building 80 Brisbane Street, In House Bathrooms, Ipswich Massage and Herbal Spa have also completed upgrades after Council made matched contributions of up to $15,000 available to each participating business.
Chair of the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee and Division 3 Councillor Marnie Doyle said the pilot Façade Improvement Program has helped encourage and support business and building owners to invest in Ipswich Central.
“Council’s pilot project has been an enormous success,” Cr Doyle said.
“It is wonderful to see so many diverse local CBD businesses partner with council to improve their façades and our shared streetscape.
“These revitalised shopfronts not only provide a welcome boost to local businesses but will help draw more visitors and customers into Ipswich Central.
“The Retro Diner upgrades celebrate a commitment to character, quirk and the history of our beautiful heritage buildings.
“The enthusiastic take-up of the pilot program by small business has been encouraging and represents another step towards revitalising the area after the challenges of recent years.”
Division 3 Councillor Andrew Fechner said the pilot Façade Improvement Program dovetailed with the broader Nicholas Street Precinct redevelopment.
“The Nicholas Street Precinct was the enormous and necessary first step needed to kick-start the Ipswich Central revitalisation and we’re delighted that the pilot Façade Improvement Program is complementing this work within our CBD,” Cr Fechner said.
“As our CBD becomes a better place to be, more people will be drawn to our footpaths, shops, cafes, libraries, public spaces and galleries, with more viable and sustainable investment in our city likely to follow.
“Protecting and investing in the heritage and culture of Ipswich Central is a key factor to revitalise this precinct.
“As Queensland’s oldest provincial town, these façade upgrades help protect and preserve the heritage of our CBD.”
Retro Diner Business Owner Angie Parsons said she is happy with the results of the façade upgrade and chose to invest in Ipswich Central as she always dreamt of owning her own business in town.
“I definitely loved the opportunity to be part of the program as it gave us a chance to upgrade our business which otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do,” Angie said.
“I have lived in Ipswich my whole life, my family live here too and I always wanted to run a small family business in town.
“The upgrades have made our street frontage so visible and noticeable to the passing traffic.”
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