News and openings in Subiaco

We have our fingers on the pulse of Subi’s vibrant scene. Check out these green shoots livening up our City of Soul. newsWORDS | Gail Williams

On yer (e) bike!

Bikemore 356a Rokeby Rd, Subiaco If we can thank COVID for one thing it is the cycling revolution which sees punters turning to pedal power for exercise, fun or their daily commute. Now one in four Perth residents are opting for a weekly ride, a lot of them on e-bikes. Sit at Boucla or Juanita’s and you can often spot a happy e-bike rider zooming towards Bikemore. Chances are they’re stopping off at the shop renowned for having the biggest range of electric bikes in WA to thank the staff there for changing their lives.

Bikemore proudly proclaims that they’re here not to just sell you a bike, they sell you a lifestyle and in doing so are helping the disabled, the lazy and deniers get back outdoors and make them feel like they’re 16 again.

Do streamers and flags come with that? New Leaders at the Loft

Squires Loft 12F/531 Hay St, Subiaco Pop into the village – yes, Subi Village – to say hi to Stewart McDonald, the new owner at this popular grill house known for its classic rib-eyes and pork ribs. McDonald is branching out from his day job, running Subi business, Vertical Events, to take over from Link Robertson, who has played host to steak and lager lovers for the past 11 years. Regulars can expect few changes apart from a funked up winelist. And fans of the rib eye need not worry - Chef Ardalan Jalali is staying on to man the grill.

Designer relocates

4Rooms | 324 Churchill Avenue, Subiaco Big things are happening on Churchill Avenue! A contemporary design space is relocating to thriving Subiaco and with 25 years experience in the interior design industry, it will be a “one-stop” inspiration destination, led by Creative Director Jane Fyfe. Pop in and be expertly guided through the latest colours, products, furniture, wallpapers and more in a relaxed and inviting space. Showcasing everything for the home, in a home, it will be a place that’s proud to support all creatives, share ideas and host events. Want to know more? Take a look @4rooms on Instagram. The Lick of Love

Fresco Gelato 375 Hay Street, Subiaco With its historic connection to Italy, Subiaco is the perfect place to open a gelato shop. And this colourful little pocket is bound to become Subi’s sweet spot with huge queues already forming for tiramisu gelato and croccantino. Pop in for a smooth and creamy dollop of bliss in waffle cone. Or stay for a coffee with a side serve of canmolo, tiramisu, macaron or eclair. Or go all oi, oi, oi for a pav – served with gelato, of course. Bellissimo!

Heartbeat High is all a flutter

Heartbeat High, Level 1, 160 Onslow Road, Shenton Park It might sound like the name of a sassy, teenage musical. But Heartbeat High is a popular pilates chain that has just added Shenton Park to its Cottesloe and Perth city locations. And the Reformer Pilates here takes place in possibly the prettiest pilates studio ever, just walking distance from Shenton Park's great cafés and shopping strip.

Whether you choose mat pilates, cardio or reformer, a workout here will not only get your heart racing but turn you into a Pilates Princess.

Life (in Subi) is Sweet

La Maison Des Eclairs 5/27 Railway Road, Subiaco What is long, crisp, hollow inside, filled with cream and topped with chocolate? A chocolate eclair. But here we call it Bliss Bomb joy. And now this exquisite French dessert has a little house – well, a tea salon actually – all of its own on Railway Road. Pop in soon for a guilty pleasure and a Moroccan mint tea.

What's my passion?

Jane Hough, Bespoke Blends

“For me, passion lies in the joy of creating, and giving others the opportunity to do so too. This is why I love hosting candle making workshops so much. It's really so very rewarding having wonderful new friends spend time in the studio making, discovering, experimenting and ultimately feeling so good about the gorgeous candles they have made.”

Sharon Edwards, 777 Pharmacy

“My passion is people. Being a Gemini, when I wake up in the morning a little out of sorts, I can't wait to get to work and talk (a lot) with my workmates and customers to brighten my day!”

Justin Magatelli, LED Glow Illumination

“My passion is GLOW. It is so rewarding to create something from concept to customer delivery.”

Subi Citizens Unite! Citizens of Brew Ha, 3-4/162 Rokeby Rd, Subiaco The more things change, the more they stay the same. And that is exactly what the owners of Brew Ha are hoping regulars will be saying after the popular Rokeby Road landmark reinvents itself as Citizens of Brew Ha.

The slight name change to the cafe, formerly known as Brew Ha, is part of a makeover to the meeting place that has been part of a ritual for many Subi locals over the past two decades. Come May, customers, many whom are grandparents who started going when their children were at Subi Primary School, will have watched the transformation with interest.

Among the changes are new tables and chairs, a predominantly black-and-white colour scheme and bespoke wallpaper featuring caricatures loosely based on Subiaco residents.

An all-day brunch menu will be part of the food package. As for the name? It takes its inspiration from the film Citizen Kane, as well as paying tribute to Subiaco residents. Ah, Rosebud.

Suffering an identity crisis? Brand Ideology can help.

By JAIMIE RATTEN, CEO Brand Ideology Like many places around Perth, Subiaco has always been open to change. And right now, there's a real buzz around the hospitality and retail sector, as new openings seem to pop up every week.

Despite all the change, Subiaco somehow manages to retain its identity - and that's conversely what attracts so many businesses to set up shop here too.

This tension between change and preservation of identity also plays out across every organisation, whether you're a large multinational or familyrun business.

The increasing pace of change in every aspect of our lives is having a major impact on the organisations we work for and buy from. Business longevity and the tenure of those in charge is getting shorter, with changes in strategic direction, restructures, mergers and acquisitions becoming more frequent, and in some ways, there's a sense of uncertainty about what's around the corner.

With all this change going on inside our companies, you may find yourself asking: “Who are we as an organisation?”.

It's a question which invariably gets asked when a business discovers it has lost its way.

It doesn’t know how to tell its story because the story itself is unclear. The people working within the business are confused about the direction and purpose of the company, and may have lost their passion for the job in hand.

It's easy to 'stay in your lane' rather than working for the common good and if there is a culture of doing things ‘the way they have always been done’, then the organisation may no longer be able to adapt or evolve effectively. The risk is that your brand may lose its relevance and the reason why customers loved you in the first place.

This is why Brand Ideology exists. We build organisational identity to transform businesses internally and externally. Once we have clearly defined who you truly are, we will then work with you to make visible change inside and outside your organisation.

In short, we reignite the passion in you and your team.

Then it's a matter of embeding this focus within your culture and mobilising everyone to action.

Within no time, every customer interaction and transaction will reflect what is distinctive about your organisation. So if you want to see change in your business, come and talk to us in our new Subiaco office. Visit brandideology.com.au