James St Journal December

Looking back on the year that was 2025, we can’t help but think that Brisbane did pretty well for itself.

Living up to its new title of Australia’s top sporting city, Brisbane’s Lions clinched a second consecutive AFL Grand Final win, whilst both the men’s and women’s Broncos took home the top prize in the Rugby League.

We are though more than just a city of jocks. This year also saw the Institute of Modern Art celebrate 50 years of championing bold, boundary-pushing artistic practice; plus, social justice took the forefront with a staggering 50,000 people taking to the streets to advocate for peace in Palestine.

Our little stretch of Brisbane didn’t fare too badly either. For one last time this year, it’s the James St Journal; this time looking back on the people, places, and prizes that made our 2025.

New Faces & Fresh Spaces

Much like a child’s wish-list at Christmas, our community just keeps growing and growing. Throughout the year, new businesses set up shop whilst others overhauled and expanded their existing ones.

1. Alpha60 moved in, bringing their art and film-inspired silhouettes with them
2. ARTCLUB made it permanent with the launch of their first-ever bricks and mortar store
3. Bailey Nelson brought its vision into focus with a highly anticipated refurb
4. Hideki Izakaya expanded its elevated yet easy-going dining stronghold to 65 James St
5. Makras Optical and the return of local legend Mike Makras have us seeing 20/20 and looking 10/10
6. Johnson Women’s offered impeccable tailoring from a new location
7. Penelope taught us a lesson in how to nail the perfect venue
8. Sushi Room and its new bar cemented itself as the ultimate cool hangout
9. The New Trend introduced us to the likes of Christopher Esber, Cult Gaia, and Magda Butrym

Moments that Made Us

It wouldn’t be a year on James St without an event or two; here are just a handful of the ones that stand out.

• James St Up Late brought the precinct to life with an electric evening of after-hours retail therapy, in-store parties, and exclusive offers
• James St Food + Wine Trail saw 42,000 foodie fiends descend onto the street for a day of dining, drinking and dancing
• Art on James continued its support of local creatives including Justine Williams, Ellamay Khongroj Fitzgerald, Perimeter Books, and LOVEWANT Magazine
• The Calile Hotel also fostered the street’s cultural programming, hosting Tony Albert, Michaela Stark, the Australasian Dance Collective with Gail Sorronda, and Australian Chamber Orchestra
• Calexico and Calexico Man donated countless pairs of recycled jeans to local charity Suited for Success
• Camilla and Marc's fundraising campaign for ovarian cancer helped researchers get just one step away from a world-first early detection blood test
• Dinosaur Designs blew out the candles on their 40th birthday cake
• Gail Sorronda celebrated 20 years of dark romanticism with the tongue-in-cheek fashion show come theatrical presentation Chromophobia
• Mitchell Ogilvie celebrated a momentous 45 years of business

Best of Our People & Places

We think our community is pretty damn special and the industry powers at be just so happen agree.

• Cru Bar was crowned winner of Australia’s Best Listing of USA Wines
• Biànca, Gemelli, Hellenika, Mosconi, sAme sAme, SK Steak & Oyster, and Sushi Room were also named on the 2025 Glass Winner List
• Epicurean eccentrics ESSA won Gourmet Traveller’s Queensland Restaurant of the Year
• The Calile was named amongst the World’s 50 Best Hotels for a third year running

What's on Next Year's Cards

We’re still very much riding the highs of 2025 but to give you a little peak into what’s in store for next year, James St Up Late will be back for your shopping pleasure on Thursday 19 March whereas July is the month to work up an appetite with James St Food + Wine Trail taking over the street on the last weekend of the month.