Blame it on the lane

Two exciting new Sydney laneway projects to open soon

A new small bar called Grasshopper and a new gallery and coffee shop are set to liven Sydney’s laneways if approved by Council on 22 February 2010."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," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP. Scudooda Pty Ltd will use the matched-cash grant along with reused and recycled materials to fit out a vacant building and the brand new venture, Grasshopper, which will trade onto Temperance Lane and create a new space for emerging artists to display their works.

The second matched-cash grant to be considered by Council could help Moran Arts Foundation Ltd establish a new shopfront opening onto Bridge Lane housing an art gallery and coffee shop. "The City's laneways hold enormous potential for people with innovative small business ideas to work with property owners to identify potential laneway spaces and create new attractions within them to draw in residents and visitors," said Ms Moore. "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."

The merit based Laneways Business Development program provides matched cash funding, in addition to mentoring and training opportunities for new businesses wanting to set up in laneways.