NORTON Street in Leichhardt has gone through much change over the past 20 years, but demand remains for investment stock on the strip, according to Ray White’s latest
Between the Lines* report.
“Once considered the ‘Little Italy’ of Sydney with a thriving restaurant and café scene, this market has been hit by many factors which over time, has eroded the vibrancy of the strip,” said Ray White Head of Research Vanessa Rader.
Ray White Commercial surveyed the street fronting retail tenancies along the strip which extends from Parramatta Road to Allen Street to determine the current vacancy and mix.
“The survey includes 140 retail tenancies with a total retail area of over 18,000sq m,” Ms Rader said.
“Currently, the vacancy has been determined at 10.82 per cent, highly concentrated on a number of long-term vacancies of adjoining shopfronts on the northern end of the strip and others throughout.”
“The mix along the strip is wide in its uses, moving away from the heavy weighting of food tenancies which the strip historically was known for.
“Cafés and restaurants account for just over a quarter of all floorspace with a wide mix of eateries including Italian and various Asian cuisines.
“Specialty food also accounts for 5.88 per cent due to several specialty cake, bread and coffee locations dotted along the strip.