An outdoor furniture trial that began last year in a bid to boost Logan’s night-time economy is being extended in the city’s west.
The trial, which involves Logan City Council providing free parklets – pre-fabricated structures consisting of decking and built-in seating – to local businesses to boost seating and provide more space, was launched at two businesses in Underwood and Beenleigh.
Now, a second business at Underwood, Chatori, and one at Forestdale, The Coffee Cabin, will receive the furniture.
The program was inspired by Europe-style dining where “they throw down three pallets, put some board across the top, and all of a sudden there is seating for nine people outside a cafe”, according to one councillor.
Council promised businesses would be able to trade “outside and longer”.
According to the owner of the first business to participate in the trial, Shafia Malak from Smashhh Burgers, the parklet program is a game changer for nightlife.
“One of the things we were struggling with was, being a fairly new business, we couldn’t afford to just go crazy with the outdoor furniture ourselves,” Ms Malak said after the first few months of the trial in December last year.
“Over the last couple of weeks, it has rained and the parklet has helped provide a space for customers to sit down undercover and be dry, while still being out.
“The great thing is that it has kept the outdoor vibe cohesive – it completes the space.”
The furniture has already been placed at Underwood and Beenleigh as part of the program funded by the Department of Customer Services, Open Data, and Small and Family Business’s Locally Led Economic Recovery Program and will now reside at the Coffee Cabin and Chatori until the end of the trial.
Other businesses interested in café style furniture are invited to get involved in the trial.
For more information, visit loed.com.au/outdoor-dining/
