"Push For Long Jetty to be Bohemian Art District"

Every few weeks, we receive a magazine titled "Central Coast Business Review", it's a good way to keep up with how other business' are doing within the area, what new business' have begun trading and what the council is planning for business' and business owners. I read an article in this addition, with the title I quoted above. Long Jetty has been "dead" for a long time now (For lack of a better word). You see small business' coming and going, like changes in the tide. I personally attribute this to, the growing "Bay Village" shopping centre, the lack of parking, and the general unkempt appearance of Long Jetty as a whole. It seems ludicrous to me though, that the general upkeep of Long Jetty is forgotten by the council considering the amount of traffic that goes through it every day. I believe that if Long Jetty received a "makeover" of sorts, in regards to parking and waste management, that it could really find itself thriving and bringing a whole new level of financial and tourism growth to the Central Coast, which in turn could be used to upkeep things like the jettys at the lake and the lakes general maintenance (In terms of dredging and waste management).

The article, is below:

After surveying the Long Jetty retail strip two young entrepreneurs have seen the opportunity for the town centre to become a Bohemian art district.

Twenty-five year old musician, Benjamin Wright and his partner, Ana Koutoulas, also twenty-five and with back-ground in retailing on the Central Coast have opened The Glass Onion Society where the serving of espresso coffee is at the top of the cafe's menu.

"We see long jetty as being a Bohemian art district as it has already attracted an alliance of businesses, creating a thoroughfare of vintage fashion, organic food and second-hand furniture" said Mr Wright, "In fact we have given the place a new name - Long Jetty Junk-sion."

"We want to help breathe new life into Long Jetty so that artists, designers, musicians and creative people of all ages can enjoy it" said Ana Koutoulas:

"After travelling around Australia as a musician and earning extra dollars as a barista, I see that with Ana's retail experience we can achieve this. This area can become great for young people. Kids my age can no longer afford to live in Sydney. So many are moving back to the Coast but there is nothing for them to do - no culture, no art, no music venues. So we see them as a market segment that we can encourage. The Glass Onion Society, is a boutique providing an outlet for local artists and a social quarter for all ages," Mr Wright continued.

"We were sick of hearing oursevles and others say 'there's nowhere to hang out on the Coast that's got a good vibe, good coffee and good music". There are not a lot of places on the Coast where up-and-coming artists can take the next step with exhibiting and selling their work t the public," said Ms Koutouslas. "The good thing about Long Jetty is that rents are quite reasonable for what we are talking about. Our retail shopfront at 308 the Entrance Road was vacant for a long time and it's taken us seven weeks renovating the place but we're really stoked to be part of the community here and the positive response has been overwhelming", continued Ms Koutoutlas.

Ms Koutoulas said that they would use facebook and twitter to promote their business to their growing social network.

"We are opening from 5.30am Monday to Friday to catch tradies heading off to work in Sydney and from 8.30am Saturday and Sunday.

"They keep telling us 'Long Jetty has needed something like this for a long time", said Mr. Wright.




I think this concept is going to work amazing wonders for Long Jetty and Central Coast as a whole. It may seem weird, that as a bakery owner, I am writing an article that promotes our "competition", but I don't mind. It's always great to see younger people getting out there and giving it a go, especially in these seemingly tough economic times! I'll always support the business' that in turn support our local community!