The Gold Coast is swiftly evolving to capitalise on urban culture, appealing to an increasingly sophisticated crowd of lifestylers. Urban lifestyle enjoys the appropriation of cultural elements that when combined provide a unique statement of place, time and attitude. This mismatch of elements is undoubtedly amped up in laneway spaces that feature one-off stores, café culture, authentic food experiences, street art and classic and industrial architecture.
Since the inception of laneway culture in Melbourne, these dynamic and vibrant city spaces have found their versions in Sydney, Brisbane and now the Gold Coast. Taking the lead at tourist hot spot Surfers Paradise, is Chevron Renaissance, with their $5 million refurbishment. The iconic apartment towers, metres from the sandy shores and at position to the new light rail, have faithfully provided the area with a boutique shopping experience. With the opening of Chevron Lane in December, Chevron Renaissance is now re-defining the shopping landscape with an experience-driven approach.
General Manager Gerard Coorey knows what the new retail, bar and dining scene will mean as a cultural experience on the Gold Coast. “Across the coast, small Melbourne-laneway style places are developing in response to a younger, cultured demographic,” he says. “While this is reshaping the way our visitors regard their shopping experiences on the Gold Coast, it is also cultivating a vibrant new local culture and inspiring a raft of start-up small businesses.”
Chevron Lane’s unique pieces of the puzzle combine to create a bigger picture, moving away from the expanses of cold glass and white walls of traditional shopping centres. The enclosed laneway space and warm brick creates an intimate bar, dining and shopping hub. Bold and dynamic street art by John Kaye fills eight panels throughout the lane to elevate the space and inspire the eyes.
The culture within laneways emerges with a dynamic mix of vendors sharing a space, and Chevron Lane is seeking to get this mix just right, attracting businesses with a strong sense of brand culture. The first to join the family in December was Viet Baguettes, offering authentic Vietnamese street food. Owner Kerry Blank grew up in a thriving Vietnamese community in Melbourne and has since travelled to Vietnam and enjoyed a stint in Hong Kong, culminating in her vibrant and authentic delivery of Vietnamese food.
Next to join the ranks was Harmoni-T where owner Jing Yan had been searching for the right place to open his first shopfront for the modern tea ceremony to provide stimulation of the senses, a body elixir and benefits to the mind. “It is important to showcase our products in a place that complemented our brand culture,” Jing points out. “We don’t want customers to just drink our tea. We want them to enjoy an experience.”
Chevron Lane
Chevron Renaissance, 3240 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
07 5592 5188
Photographer: Vampire Pants Photography
