James St Journal August
Journal
August 17, 2025
A Time to Say Hi and Bye
Much like the yin yang-esque black and white buildings of Ada Lane, pictured above, hello and goodbye are two sides of the same coin. You can’t have one without the other. And whilst they’re tinged with their own unique emotions, hello and goodbye both present the chance for a something new. For this month’s James St Journal, it is this new something that we’re homing in on. New openings, new fit outs, new extensions, new outlooks on life – read on to discover those that are here now and those that are coming soon as we say hi and bye on James St.
Say hi now
For a month not normally associated with new beginnings, August is chock full of them. Coincidentally these new beginnings also fall into two categories: food and fashion. Holding it down in the food corner is Sushi Room with its alfresco bar extension that offers patrons the chance to experience its culinary craft in a more casual atmosphere and the newest epicurean eatery of them all Hideki Izakaya who are serving up Japanese-inspired staples for breezy lunches and quick dinners.
For fashion, we’re turning our eyes (pun fully intended) to Bailey Nelson who are back to business after getting a highly receiving a round of highly anticipated and in their words, much needed, renovations. Plus, there’s a not so new, new face on the block as well-respected optometrist Mike Makras returns to James St with his newest venture Makras Optical. With a curated range of artisan eyewear plus clinical expertise and advanced diagnostic services, you can rest easy knowing that your eyewear will be both beautiful and scientifically suited to you.
Say hi soon
You’ll have to be patient, but for design and detail lovers, this one’s worth paying attention to. No longer confined to the pop-up, Heidi Middleton’s ARTCLUB is taking pride of place on James St – permanently! While its final form is yet to be fully realised, you can be sure to expect Heidi’s signature range of carefully crafted garments, intricate artworks and perhaps an element of the atelier if you’re lucky.
Joining, or should we say expanding their role in, the quiet revolution towards a sustainable and ethical fashion industry is P. Johnson; this time with a new space dedicated entirely to the brand’s refined and understated womenswear. Think expertly tailored silhouettes, fabrics rich in both texture and quality, and an interior that’ll give you design envy for life courtesy of talented interior designer and stylist Tamsin Johnson. The exact opening date is still to be finalized but don’t worry, it’ll be here before you know it.
Say bye (for now!)
The truest definition of the phrase local legend, Jamie’s Espresso Bar, will be shutting its doors in the coming months. First setting up shop in 1998, Jamie Bellas and his eponyms coffee haunt have gone on to call three different locations in and around the precinct home. No mere business owner, Jamie has embedded himself in his surrounds, building a dedicated, close-knit community around him. And so, whilst it’s bye for now it’s certainly not forever as Jamie will surely continue to calmly stroll our streets, no doubt in shorts at all times, offering a subdued yet assured nod by way of a greeting. We wish Jamie well as he embarks on this new beginning of his own.
