All Quiet In The Village As Parade Passes It By

Sun Herald

Sunday August 15, 2004

By DANIELLE TEUTSCH

FOR 11 years, women's fashion designer Liz Davenport in Knox Street, Double Bay, has been dressing eastern suburbs matrons in everything from demure twin-sets to sequined mother-of-the-bride ensembles.

But the economic downturn in the suburb that was once Australia's answer to Santa Barbara has forced the store to downsize radically, reducing its floor space by almost half.

Store manager Ilonka Snell said the installation of parking meters was partly to blame for deterring shoppers.

"The numbers are down. You can see it in the cafes," she said.

Lee O'Brien, shop manager from fashion and accessories store Have to Have on Knox Street, said business had definitely been "hurting" since Bondi Westfield opened. The store has long been a favourite of society ladies such as Susan Renouf and Sonia McMahon, who have popped in to pick up a beaded clutch or silk wrap.

"We don't have the passing parade that we once had," Ms O'Brien said.

But she was confident the market would recover, citing the suburb's wealth of specialty shops, personalised service and village atmosphere as assets.

© 2004 Sun Herald

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