It’s musical shops in the CBD of Lismore.

After 30 years of trading at the front of Mathers Arcade on Woodlark Street, Fashion Profile is moving. Tracey Ryan, the shop’s owner said “it’s time to move on”.

Tracey said the move would happen in about two weeks – and she’s moving to the Woodlark Street shop left vacant by Daleys Homewares and Monogramming.

“Pre-Covid, I had no intention to move out of our bustling location in the alleyway,” Tracey said. “But we always had other traders here too and it was a funky Melbourne vibe.

Read related business news: After 24 years Daleys is moving from Woodlark Street

Scary place

“But since February when Julian closed down The French Bench at the other end of the arcade because of Covid impacting on his business, it’s become a dangerous, toxic and scary place to be.

“People were used to walking through the alleyway from the other side - but we can’t see who’s coming in through our back door and I’m worried about the safety of my staff.

“We were finding condoms and syringes and are worried about using the toilet upstairs. We are the only ones in the building, apart from the counsellors upstairs - and they keep irregular hours.”

To help her staff feel safer, Tracey closed off the alleyway with a partition to stop through-traffic.

Major incident

“Just last Friday, we had a major incident here,” she said. “The police chased a man causing problems down the alley and they said they got him because he was hindered by having to dive through the partition we have put up.”

Responsibility and risk

“We’ve told the real estate about it and that we won’t open the back doors unless the building’s owners take responsibility for the work health and safety of staff here.

“A year ago, the building was sold to a new owner. The previous owner was fantastic and looked after us, but we think the real estate agent is not passing on our concerns to the owner.

“I’m disappointed other people don’t see the risk for what it is.

“If people want to walk through from the back laneways to Woodlark Street, they can still walk through the chemist instead.”

New lease on life

Tracey said she gave her real estate agent notice on the shop yesterday and she hopes to be trading in the new location by October 19.

“It will be exciting working out how to merchandise and showcase our beautiful clothes in a new shop,” she said.

Tracey said when Matthew Healy – the owner of Daleys – moved the business to the new location on Keen Street last week, she was immediately interested in taking over the old shop building.

“Matthew and I have always got on well as business colleagues,” she said. “Daleys has been in business for 30 years too.

“I bought the Fashion Profile business in July 2015 when I left my teaching job and Matthew bought Daleys from John in October when he left his corporate job. We are both long term businesses and we have a supportive, community working relationship.”

Read related business news: Historic cream can reappears atop new Daleys shop

Community

“Our relationship has grown over the years and along with Trea’s Shoes, the three of us opened up the emporium in Evans Head together in July this year. We’ve committed for six months already. You sell more fashion in Evans Head than towels, so we needed a different business model.”

Read about the Evans Head emporium.

As generations of locals keep business in Lismore afloat, Tracey is glad to be part of the community.

“There’s a good landlord in the new building and there’s a toilet on bottom floor,” she said.

“It’s a sad day for business when people see an empty shop in Lismore. It’s not because we aren’t trying as a community though.”

The Lismore App today contacted Tracey’s real estate agent for comment about the Mathers Arcade alleyway.

Read more business news: New deli brings bagels, cupcakes and New York to Lismore