One of West End's iconic, small businesses, Charlie's Fruit Shop is facing a bleak future.
But locals are rallying the troops and holding a cash mob today (1 October).
It doesn't take a genius to work out that rapidly rising rents are making life harder for long-running small businesses on Boundary Street. Over time, this is changing the street from a local hub that offers day-to-day goods and services into a high-end luxury shopping precinct devoid of the character and community-mindedness that makes Boundary Street so special.
Unfortunately, many newer West End residents will happily splurge on craft beer, but still prefer to shop at Coles rather than a local family business like Charlie and Liz's Fruit Shop.
I propose that next Thursday we hold a cash mob at Audrey's Music on Jane Street at 3:30pm, followed by the fruit shop on Boundary Street at 4pm. Stop by on your way home from work or uni and buy a few bucks of fruit and veggies from this local small business to help keep them afloat. I'll organise a couple musicians to provide some entertainment out front. A few extra customers could make all the difference.
Personally I get most of my veggies through Food Connect, but I still think it's important that businesses like this continue to exist, particularly on places like Boundary Street.
It's worth acknowledging that this sort of action won't necessarily save businesses like the fruit shop in the long run. It doesn't address broader structural flaws in our economic system, or the unequal and potentially exploitative relationships between landlords and tenants, but if we publicise it through social media, it'll help draw broader attention to a key issue that's hurting small businesses all around inner city Brissie.
If more people are aware of the problem, it'll be easier to leverage political power to reform our zoning, property and taxation systems to protect the local character of our community.
Think global, act local.
Unfortunately, many newer West End residents will happily splurge on craft beer, but still prefer to shop at Coles rather than a local family business like Charlie and Liz's Fruit Shop.
I propose that next Thursday we hold a cash mob at Audrey's Music on Jane Street at 3:30pm, followed by the fruit shop on Boundary Street at 4pm. Stop by on your way home from work or uni and buy a few bucks of fruit and veggies from this local small business to help keep them afloat. I'll organise a couple musicians to provide some entertainment out front. A few extra customers could make all the difference.
Personally I get most of my veggies through Food Connect, but I still think it's important that businesses like this continue to exist, particularly on places like Boundary Street.
It's worth acknowledging that this sort of action won't necessarily save businesses like the fruit shop in the long run. It doesn't address broader structural flaws in our economic system, or the unequal and potentially exploitative relationships between landlords and tenants, but if we publicise it through social media, it'll help draw broader attention to a key issue that's hurting small businesses all around inner city Brissie.
If more people are aware of the problem, it'll be easier to leverage political power to reform our zoning, property and taxation systems to protect the local character of our community.
Think global, act local.
