When Zane Grier, the owner of the iconic Driftlab store in the tiny country village of Newrybar met Todd Miller, a designer and builder from Brisbane, they were both intrigued by the idea of creating a collaborative space. The result – the ‘Newrybar Merchants’ is a special place indeed…
There’s no doubt that little Newrybar, nestled in the hills between Bangalow and Ballina has been transformed from the Whitechapel of the Monopoly Board to Mayfair over the past six years or so, with the expansion of the Harvest cafe and restaurant, the opening of Driftlab and the Harvest Deli and weekend bakery (by brothers Zane and Tristan Grier respectively).
The impressive collection of artisans gathered under the Merchants collective label includes Sibella Court of Society Inc, Jai Vasicek, Patterson and Steele, Shannon Fricke Heart & Home, TigmiTrading morrocan rugs, Fate and Fortune stationery, handmade bespoke leather goods by Wolf & Maiden from Cape Town, and clothing from a few handpicked sources, stocked under the Miller Trading Group umbrella, which includes Todd Miller and his artist wife Diana.
Until recently the Newrybar Merchants store was the much-loved Newrybar Antique Store, which is still present, but in a much smaller way, and the current occupiers have kept the charm of the original 1890’s building, carefully blending country charm with a sophisticated feeel within this somewhat unique retail space. Another Newrybar institute, Beautiflora, with its weekend cart tucked down at the bottom of the old bakery, has also come on board, and as you go into the shop, the first room on the left is a riot of colour – not to mention creating a wonderful fragrance for the space.
Newrybar Merchants will provide an exciting addition to the already bustling village of Newrybar which features the popular Harvest Café & Deli and Driftlab. It will be sure to become a destination for those seeking a unique retail experience in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.
Newrybar Merchants is located at 19 Old Pacific Highway, NSW (the site of the old Antique store) over the road from Harvest Café. Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm Monday – Sunday.
