Defying the challenges of Covid-19, a handful of new commercial businesses are opening in and around Wanaka in a variety of industries. 

Among the many new businesses opened in the last six months or so, the Wanaka App caught up with the owners of three upcoming commercial operations.

The former Soul Food space, which closed in March after more than 20 years of operation, has undergone a major renovation and will soon reopen as Arc. 

Co-owner James Stapley, who is also the executive chef and owner of Kika, said Arc is envisioned as “a modern brunch place during the day and a small plate tapas style bar at night”. 

Behind closed doors, the former Soul Food market is being converted into a restaurant serving modern brunches by day and small-plate tapas by night. PHOTO: Wanaka App

He owns Arc with Kika head chef Sam Cooper and they plan to open on July 20 after a three-month refurbishment.

Arc will have “a big focus on local and sustainable produce using a network of small artisan suppliers like we use at Kika,” James told the Wanaka App. 

Another restauranter making moves is Roger Gordon, who will take over the Albert Town tavern and the fish and chip shop next door to it. 

The Albert Town tavern has also been purchased by a new owner and it’s undergoing a renovation. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Roger also owns Speights Ale House in Wanaka and he has taken on the new project in Albert Town fairly undeterred by the challenges of Covid-19.

“I guess we’ve just got to be positive and go forward and we know eventually we’ll get back to some form of normality,” Roger said. “There’s no point sitting back.”

Roger remained tight lipped about the specifics for the future of the space, which is currently being refurbished, but said his plans would be shared in the near future: “We’re trying to get open as soon as possible”.

The hospitality offerings join a spate of recent openings, from Scroggin in the former Beanie cafe to the new food truck village on Brownston Street, but there are also changes afoot in the commercial space, and Devold is one of the town’s newest retail stores, due to open on July 19. 

Sarah-Jane Perriam is converting the vacant Originz souvenir store into the first New Zealand branch of Devold, a Norweign brand which sells high-end wool products made sustainably. 

Sarah-Jane will accompany Devold’s products with goods by some of her favourite sustainable New Zealand designers including Ronja Schipper (famous for her Jacinda Double Feather earrings), Hills Hats from Wellington, pieces by local Wanaka artist Melissa Sharplin and Svord Knives from Waiuku.

Instead of being a negative, Covid-19 is actually one of the reasons Sarah-Jane is giving the former Originz souvenir store a new life. 

“A lack of international tourism is actually what spurred us in a new direction,” Sarah-Jane told the Wanaka App. 

These new businesses will join the many that have defied the odds and opened in Wanaka in the last year, including new stores in Three Parks and even more under construction there.