Another moving story from the Wayside

The iconic Wayside Chapel op-shop, Beatniks and Bohemians, has moved to a new site in Llankelly Place in Kings Cross. That’s the laneway off Darlinghurst Road with the starburst neon lights designed by Peter McGregor.

The shop will stay about a year in its new location while the old Wayside building is replaced with a new purpose-designed structure.

The Laneway was remodelled by South Sydney Council early in the millennium before it was forced to amalgamate with the City of Sydney. Despite the upgrade and a big party to open it, the laneway has languished for years as shop after shop closed down.

But now, since the large Era project was built on the site of the old Village Centre, new businesses have flocked in and the laneway is resurgent with cafés, restaurants, a thriving small bar and now the op-shop.

by Michael Gormly