Restaurant transforms to breathe life into vacant shopfronts

Perth Now

18-06-2025

A temporary gallery is opening up next door to Subiaco's Regal Theatre with an exhibition from local artists as part of a new city initiative to transform vacant spaces into vibrant hubs.
Launching this Thursday, Subiaco has partnered with urban-renewal organisation SPACEMRKT to transform a former Sicilian restaurant into a temporary gallery space
Dubbed Hayside Gallery, the venue's inaugural exhibition, titled Tension, will display a range of work across different forms of media that explore themes of form, pressure and contrast.
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Curated by Shaye Preston and Kate Dolan, from Side Project, creatives include photographer Ivan Shaw, painter Emma Benichou, industrial artists Kartika Laili Ahmad and Benjamin Kontoullas, mixed-media creators Stephen Brameld and Jay Staples, sculptor Fernando Sala of FDO Studio, visual artist and signwriter Sam Bloor, as well as Dolan.
Running until July 19, the space will also hold a series of art workshops, community events and artist-in-residence programs. Pictured is Shaye Preston and Joel Benichou from SPACEMRKT and Artist and Exhibition Co Curator Kate Dolan. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian
Also in the works is a community painting project, which will invite locals to contribute to a collaborative, evolving mural.
Previously The Corner Italian, the site, located at 484 Hay Street, was temporarily offered to SPACEMRKT by local developer Westbridge Funds ahead of a major redevelopment next door to the heritage-listed 1930s Regal Theatre.
The $78 million development, which was approved last September, comprises a nine-storey building with five commercial tenancies, a small bar and more than 70 apartments.
Alongside the demolition of the former restaurant, part of the neighbouring Regal Theatre will also be knocked down to make way for accessibility upgrades, additional toilets and new bar facilities to the heritage space.
Marking Subiaco's second venture with SPACEMARKT, Subiaco mayor David McMullen said the collaboration was a perfect example of realising the potential of vacant spaces for community benefit. The proposed Westbridge mixed use development next to the Regal Theatre in Subiaco Credit: Supplied / Supplied
'The partnership between the city and SPACEMRKT supports the transformation of vacant shopfronts that would otherwise continue to sit empty,' he said.
'The result is pop-up style community hubs, which encourage vibrancy, creativity and artistry. We look forward to seeing the Hay Street gallery evolve in coming months.'
Director of SPACEMRKT Joel Benichou echoed Cr McMullen's sentiment.
'Creative energy can thrive anywhere, especially in the spaces most people overlook,' Benichou said.
'These two projects show what's possible when artists are given room to experiment and connect with their surroundings.'
Hayside Gallery is open Thursday to Sunday. Visit happyhubcollective.com.au for workshop bookings and more information.