New phase for creative hub in Bridge St

It started when the owners of Sublime Coffee wanted a new project.

Now, a former nightclub is once again abuzz with activity after being transformed into a creative hub.

Emma and Dan Hennah bought the central city building that was home to Bridge Street Studios in 2024.

Then, the studios was a creative collective of about nine small businesses.

Now, they’ve moved their shop front roastery and brew bar to the site and, along with a family group, have bought and redeveloped the former Malba’s building next door, allowing the studios to expand into that space.

“The vision was to grow this makers’ and creatives’ community into something exactly the same – just much bigger,” Emma said.

The larger offering is now a collective of about 23 creative businesses – including a nut roastery, a pottery studio, a fibre arts shop and a French-Korean bakery.

The Hennahs say the studios are focused on giving small start-ups a way to get into the central city, while celebrating the creative culture of Whakatū.

“It just feels like something new and different for Nelson – but something we’re so ready for,” Emma said.

The old nightclub had been stripped back, exposing original bricks and timber that had long been covered up, Dan said.

“It was very broken down, it was basically raining inside.”

Now, it’s home to a series of small shops and shared spaces the public can visit and where local artists will be able to display their work.

The revamped Bridge Street Studios was officially launched with an open day on Saturday, March 28.

And that’s just phase two – the next stage will see the cafe courtyard extended to fully connect the two spaces.

For the couple, it started when they were looking for a new project to “hook their teeth into”, Emma said.

“It’s been huge.”

The vision was to grow the makers and creators community, by creating a space where they could support each other, she said.

Dan said all the businesses had started out from home, and the studios provided a space where they could grow their operation alongside like-minded creative entrepreneurs.

The space was a “hot-bed” for creativity, with businesses able to help each other out, as they were all at different stages of the journey, he said.

Emma said many of the businesses had outgrown working from home, and the studios gave them an affordable and collaborative space to move into.

“This is like the next step for businesses who are growing.”

Common Threads had been in a space under the stairs in the original building, but has now moved into a larger space in the new building.

Owner Lisa Dunker said the move meant having a shop front facing on to Bridge St.

“It feels grown up.”

Being at the front of the new building meant she was able to see the reactions when people first discovered the new city destination.

“Everybody who does is like, OMG, this feels like big city … it’s going to be a new buzzing hub.”

Being surrounded by other like-minded business owners was “massive” after working solo for a long time, she said.

“It’s very inspiring to have all these other businesses around me.”

Green Collective owner Emma Saunders has been at the studios for more than four years, and said it was a space where businesses could share ideas and expertise.

With the arrival of Sublime the revamped studios were “coming alive”, she said.

“I love visitors’ reactions … people who have travelled feel this is very much like a laneways from Australia.”

The creative hub would become a must-visit destination for visitors, she said.

“This is the type of place we want to have.”

The relaunch of the studios comes as Bridge St is closed for the Bridge to Better project, but the Hennahs are focusing on the end result, rather than the disruption.

“The outcome is what pulls us all through,” Emma Hennah said.

“It’s time now to knuckle down and get through it. The street’s going to be iconic.”

She encouraged people to come and check out the expanded Bridge Street Studios.

“Come in and grab a coffee and just walk around and see if something strikes your interest.”

Caption: Dan and Emma Hennah of Sublime Coffee have relaunched an expanded Bridge Street Studios.Braden Fastier / Nelson Mail

By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail