Ian Street traders (back from left) Mark Gimzewski, John Arabatlis, Peter Funtusoff, (front) Gloria Gimzewski, Helen Dimoski and Wi Funtusoff are pushing for changes and improvements to help encourage improved trade.By Shaun Inguanzo
A GROUP of Noble Park traders is hoping the Greater Dandenong council will support its push to revamp a forgotten shopping strip.
Traders along Ian Street, Noble Park, last weekend gathered to welcome new business owner Helen Dimoski to the area after her recent purchase of the store A and B Second Hand Goods.
Ms Dimoski, a Noble Park resident of 12 years, said she bought the business knowing it had not been performing well, but it was her goal to turn things around.
Ian Street links Heatherton Road to Mons Parade, which runs parallel to the Noble Park train line.
Ms Dimoski and veteran Ian Street trader of 21 years John Arabatlis said the street used to enjoy the business brought by people using it as a thoroughfare to go to and from the train station.
This changed when a nearby park was built, re-routing pedestrian traffic accessing the station away from Ian Street.
Ms Dimoski said a series of enhancements to Ian Street, including signage and safe lighting, was vital to her goal of turning around business.
“We need a sign showing people there are shops in the area,” she said.
“(Council) has forgotten to put adequate street lights in, it is a little dangerous here, and is better lit down other areas.”
Other traders agreed with Ms Dimoski’s suggestions, saying the street’s individuality made it deserving of people’s attention.
La Fina restaurant owner Mark Gimzewski said he and his wife Gloria had established a Spanish and Latin American cuisine restaurant that was well-renowned throughout the community.
Ms Gimzewski said she was unofficially known as the ‘princess of paella’, a Spanish rice dish.
But Mr Gimzewski said the street needed beautification and promotion, the absence of which had been stifling business growth.
“From my perspective I would like to see it become an exclusive street, like Chapel or Lygon,” he said.
“But it has been neglected, I think, for a while.”
The State Government has earmarked Noble Park train station for improvements as part of its Eastlink project.
The Department of Infrastructure has said it would upgrade a pedestrian underpass to meet disability requirements, but the traders said they were hoping one could be built to channel pedestrians down Ian Street.
Puppy Planet owner Peter Funtusoff said traders needed the council to “come on board” and install signage, lighting and promote the street to residents.
“There is a unique sense of new ideas here,” he said.
“We are more about specialty shops than the generic ‘four bakeries in one street’ approach.”
City of Greater Dandenong strategic planning department consultant Michelle Lee said a Noble Park activity centre plan was in development, but would not appear before council until January.
Ms Lee said a potential plan for Ian Street could involve upper-storey housing on current shop fronts to encourage residents to shop there, while allowing close access to public transport.
