Life will soon be coming to the empty Mathers Arcade, off Woodlark Street in the CBD when new vegan gelato shop -Space Bars - opens its doors.

The gelateria will be selling the creations of Jahli Eves and her partner Kashina – who have been perfecting how to make Italian style gelato over the last six years.

Jahli and Kashina.

“We starting by experimenting with vegan ice cream recipes at home, because we couldn’t find anything to buy of a good standard – so we made our own,” Jahli said.

“Then we realised there was a gap in the market because lots of people are dairy intolerant, so we started travelling around to expos and markets to sell it.

“Recently, we did online courses with an Italian gelato expert and it changed everything.

“Now we can make traditional Italian gelato that’s vegan and we think we’ve nailed it and can sell something a bit different.”

Jahli and Kashina use liquid nitrogen to freeze the gelato order right before the customer’s eyes and take pride in sourcing and using sustainable products taken only from plant-based ingredients.

“We’ve also been experimenting with hemp and sugar free gelatos and are keen to test them in a friend’s a gelato lab,” Jahli said. “We are always on the hunt for new products.”

The couple intend to sell shakes and smoothies in their shop and have a coffee machine to make affogatos and take away coffees with vegan milks.

“We also hope to sell some vegan bakery treats and chocolates made by friends of ours,” Jahli said.

“We are both vegans who care about animal ethics and environmental issues – and the health benefit of not eating dairy is a bonus too.”

Jahli said they were inspired to open a shop because it was difficult to get stalls at some of the local markets – and that made it an inconsistent and unsustainable way to make money.

“Then lockdown came last year in March and we lost a year’s worth of work in one day,” she said. “I’m excited at opening a shop of our own in the CBD.”

Right now, the shop is not yet ready to open and the couple are still waiting for the Development Approval to pass through Lismore Council – but Jahli has the new signage for the shop ready to go – including a neon icecream sign that will entice people into the arcade.

“We haven’t set an opening date yet, but hopefully we’ll know in the next month,” she said.

“I hope it brings the arcade back to life as people walk through it again – and it will be great when the Living School opens up and uses the streets and laneways too.”

Read more about the Living School's plans: School ready to bring life back to Lismore's historic CBD building