Update from the EO

Hello to all of our wonderful businesses,

With new campaigns rolling out, activations taking shape, and plenty more on the horizon, it’s a great time to be in Launceston! With the changing season bringing fresh energy and growing momentum for local business across the city centre.

Launnie Long-standers is now live

It was such a joy to officially launch our Launnie Long-standers campaign last week. The event was a heartfelt celebration of the businesses who have stood the test of time in our city, and a reminder of the strength and spirit within our business community.

A sincere thank you to the panellists who spoke so candidly. Your stories resonated deeply with the audience, and it was lovely to see so many people genuinely connected to your experiences. A very special thank you also to Kim Napier, who hosted the panel discussion with such warmth and energy. Her long-standing commitment to Launceston and its businesses truly shone on the night and helped create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere.

As we mentioned on the night, this is a long-term campaign. We’ve compiled a significant list of businesses already at or approaching their 10-year milestone, and we’ll continue to roll out stories across the year with more to come in future years as others reach the milestone. We’ll continue to share and promote the campaign across local media and social platforms to ensure these stories are widely celebrated.

New businesses in the CBD

We’ve had strong interest from local media, with ongoing conversations around the changing face of Launceston’s city centre. While it’s true that some businesses have downsized or moved on, there’s a great deal of positive momentum to highlight.

We pulled together a snapshot of new business activity over the past six months, and some key trends emerged:

• New locations from established businesses like Tassie Dhaba in Town, Ivory Orthodontics, Mortel’s, and My Mac.
• Online-first businesses like Grace Violet and Georgios + Co opening their first physical stores.
• Businesses relocating from other parts of Tasmania to call Launceston home, such as Poppyron’s and Aviva.
• And locals who have branched out after working for others, including the teams behind Le Petit Chou and LeKoh.

Just some of the exciting new additions to our city centre also include:

• Tres Restaurant – a Latin-inspired dining experience from local chef Stacy Thompson
• The Dill Pickle Club – a unique new listening bar and cocktail lounge, bringing a cosmopolitan feel to town
• Another Wild Thyme Cafe – a social enterprise cafe with mainland roots, now open in Launceston
• Luz Restaurant – recently reopened in a stunning new heritage location, proving that not every closure is final
• And upcoming openings like York St. Social and Nando’s...

All of this paints a picture of a city in transition and renewal. We’re seeing a mix of newcomers, relocations from across Tasmania, and passionate locals stepping into business ownership for the first time — all of which contribute to a growing, evolving city.

The Lounge 2025

Our next big project on the horizon is the return of The Lounge, as we look to kick off winter in a big way and bring warmth, vibrancy, and connection back into the city centre.

The Lounge will once again transform an empty shopfront into a welcoming, creative community space, open to all. This year, we’re aiming to run the space for eight weeks during the cooler months and we’re currently seeking support to help bring it to life.

The Lounge was a true highlight of last winter and with your help, we can make it even better in 2025. If you're keen to be involved, please reach out to our team.

Madi Biggelaar

Interim Executive Officer

Launceston Central