In the lead-up to the grand opening of The Welder, we get the inside scoop on the impressive development and yarn to the Box 112 team about their vision behind bringing it to life, its unique offering and their other projects.
The city is on the rise with a wealth of boutiques, eateries and social hubs having opened up shop in recent months, and it just keeps getting better with the hotly anticipated unveiling of The Welder – the first health and wellbeing centre of such a large scale – brought to life by the team at Box 112. Set to open in the first week of October, The Welder is taking up residence on the bustling Welles Street and joining the impressive rank of culinary haunts such as Welles Street, Winnie Bagoes, Burger Burger and Supreme Supreme alongside the Yoobee Colleges, Grow Active Daycare and the abundance of seriously slick apartments in the Atlas Quarter.
With health and wellbeing at the forefront of The Welder development, the central-city hotspot will be a place where you can celebrate all parts of wellbeing, expanding further than just healthy eating into physical wellbeing, mindfulness and sociability. Speaking on the vision behind the development, James Stringer of Box 112 said, “The Welder is about creating a meaningful experience in a place that makes a healthy lifestyle approachable and memorable. The emphasis is on making people’s lives better through producing healthy products and services and creating enjoyable and memorable experiences. It will be an urban garden – fresh, green and lush.”
Given the prime location of Welles Street, The Welder will provide “a unique offering to boutique businesses looking for authentic and character spaces right in the heart of an emerging central-city neighbourhood”. Not only will The Welder house an array of businesses, it will also boast a function space, cocktail bar, Italian deli, a yoga studio and communal gardens as well as a space where you can partake in cooking classes, with more on the horizon.
Meet the Welders. A taster of what and who will call The Welder their new home.
1. GoodFor: These cool cats created a plastic-free shopping experience that allows you to stock up on your pantry goods sans the wasteful packaging that comes with it.
2. Great Pastry Shop: Helmed by dynamic duo Rhiannon and Elsie, you can expect top-notch patisserie treats.
3. Greenroots Juicery: Paving the way in organic, plant-based and cold-pressed juice is what Will and Katie of Greenroots Juicery are renowned for.
4. Grizzly Baked Goods: From side project to full-time gig, Sam Ellis’ ever-popular Grizzly Baked Goods will entice and delight with their epic lineup of sweet and savoury treats.
5. Hennie & Renata: An organic restaurant will be brought to life by Hennie Murray – who has pre-quake institutions Le Plonk and The Monday Room on his resumé.
6. Sam & Sally Hooper: Taking the hospo industry by storm with institution Sister Kong and past culinary venture Pot Sticker Dumpling Bar, Sam and Sally Hooper are tapped to bring a little somethin’ somethin’ to The Welder.
7. Two Raw Sisters: With a mission to change the perceptions of plant-based food, savvy sisters Margo and Rosa Flanagan started up Two Raw Sisters. You can expect tasty morsels whipped up and served over the counter.
8. Tom Newfield: With Welles Street and Earl tucked under his belt, Tom is no stranger to the buzzing city scene and it’s only fitting that the South Town resident set up shop in the new development.
9. Wel Health Club: Husband, pro-rugby player and dad to two girls, Tim Bateman will bring his business Cloud 9 Float Club to the table, along with a new yoga studio.