After buying Industrial Brew café in Terralong St in December, and rebranding it as Central Perk, Cameron Thomas is already considered an old hand given the number of businesses that have changed hands in the street after him.

Scoops Ice Creamery, Centrepoint Pizza and Milk & Honey have all sold; while Otis is awaiting settlement. Licked and Terra Art Gallery have closed with the premises of the former in the process of being leased and the latter now the Kiama Sweet Company.

Knickerboxers and Hello Travel have also made the decision to move out of Kiama Village ahead of the redevelopment, with Hello Travel now where My Room was and Knickerboxers in the process of moving into the Edessa Arcade. 

“There has certainly been a lot of change which will bring a new vitality,” says Cameron, an experienced operator who bought Industrial Brew because of its location and the fact he liked going there himself.

“The community has been quite warm and welcoming and the feedback has been really good.

“I think it’s important that cafés accommodate the needs of the locals as well as the tourists.”

Cameron Thomas of Central Perk

Having already got behind Destination Kiama’s Street Soiree and other events, he’s planning seasonal menu changes and being open for longer during the summer and holiday periods, something that the community says they want.

Dolphins Diner & Deli, at the railway end of the street was bought by Hannah Foreman and has become Stocked Kiama, a part-grocer/

deli/café.

“It’s a grocer where you can get an awesome cup of coffee, you can grab some food, sit here in the sun and take a break,” says Hannah, who worked in operations management for Hungry Monkey for over two years.

Hannah says she always wanted to have her own business but was just waiting for the right time.

“I’ve always wanted to do something of my own and do something a little bit different,” she says.

“I wanted to build on the deli that was here by bringing in more produce and options.

“I want to keep building on the grocery side of things and I’m looking towards bottling my own relishes and sauces to sell.”

Jennifer James of the Kiama Sweet Company

The most recent addition to the main street is Kiama Sweet Company, in the space that was Terra Art Gallery.

“My brother owns the Echuca Heritage Sweet Company and after he visited Kiama we thought that the town would really like what we offer there,” says owner Jennifer James, a Sydney

resident who regularly spends time in Kiama.

“While the Echuca store is very old fashioned, we’re doing something far more modern here with rainbows, lots of colours and bright white.”

She says the shop has a huge range of American, British and European confectionery which isn’t available at many lolly shops and will also sell the famous Billson’s cordial.

Once she is fully set up, Jennifer hopes to expand the hours in summer and be involved with the local community through events.