The Star Court Arcade is a local favourite. It’s a historic, stylish sweep from Molesworth Street through to Carrington that has been home to numerous appealing shops and the treasured Star Court Theatre.

Like most buildings around town, the arcade is currently undergoing major reconstruction as we await to see which businesses will be able to make the treacherous leap to return.

While some of the upper-level businesses in the arcade are operational, the repair of the street level shops is active and ongoing.

Iconic local salon Pomstar is relocating from its long-term home in the Star Court Arcade. Pete Crowley, who founded the salon nearly 30 years ago, told the Lismore App it was a difficult decision.

“The arcade is still in a terrible state, still no power and sadly full of mould and wearing an abandoned feel. Just about all of the shops are going somewhere else,” Pete said.

Pete and business partner Telea is moving ahead with plans to open in a new space on Keen Street in July and are looking forward to welcoming back clients to the CBD. The Pomstar team have been pampering clients in their pop-up garage salon during the flood recovery process.

The new salon will be located in a space previously also a hair salon, near the corner of Keen and Magellan Streets.

Meanwhile, upstairs at the Star Court Theatre, managers Sharon Rigby and Sarah Jane Loxton are cleaning with determination to open late July. The disappointment of having to cancel the David Strassman show scheduled for late June has powered them forward.

Star Court Arcade from Molesworth Street entrance

Sharon told the Lismore App that after waiting several weeks for power, they finally got partial power last week.

“We’re going to be open late July. We’ve got a show and we want to go ahead with it. … regardless of how the theatre looks,” Ms Rigby said.

The scheduled show is social media sensation Luke Kidgell, with his debut comedy special ‘The Whitest Boy That Ever Lived.’

Ms Rigby went on to describe some of the impact of the flood inundation which included losing carpet and some of the seating at the lower end of the theatre.

“We lost all the carpet in the bar of course. We’ll open and it will look a little bit rough and we’ll keep fixing and painting,” Sharon explained.

“We lost first four rows of seating, 60 odd chairs. We’ve got an order in with Dennys now that they’re operating, they’re reupholstering the seats,” she added.

When describing the cleaning process, Ms Rigby mentioned the fatigue which many in our region will relate to.

“I find I have to do a little bit, a few hours, and then walk away. It’s too daunting.”

With continuing mould treatment and great support from landlord Nick Volpato, the Star Court Theatre will definitely be back.

Visit the theatre’s website to make bookings.

The Lismore App will keep you updated with the Star Court Arcade as it journeys towards what we all hope will be its pre-flood splendour.