{"id":108193,"date":"2025-07-04T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/tweedcoasttimes\/?p=108193"},"modified":"2025-07-02T16:49:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T06:49:43","slug":"a-creative-vision-for-condong-general-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/tweedcoasttimes\/news\/a-creative-vision-for-condong-general-store\/","title":{"rendered":"A creative vision for Condong General Store"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE Condong General Store is celebrating its first anniversary under new ownership and launching the next chapter of its evolution as a creative, collaborative community hub.<\/p>\n

A birthday event coinciding with the inaugural Condong Artisan Markets will fill the riverside precinct with colour and life this Saturday, July 5.<\/p>\n

Longtime Northern Rivers local Jasen Pankhurst said deciding to invest in the business was a defining moment during a difficult period in his life.<\/p>\n

“After the floods, things were challenging, and I got to a point where I knew I needed to do something different,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I went by one day, and Jeff said the place was for sale, and it went from there.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Local artist and stall holder Becky Campbell. Photo: DAVID COPE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The biggest driver for me is this region – the flood did something for me, and it reignited something – where I’ve forgotten the skills that I had.”<\/p>\n

The career accountant also has a background as a creative and is under no illusion as to the challenges small businesses face but is working towards making his model sustainable.<\/p>\n

“It’s bloody hard work and small business is the backbone of Australia – we don’t get enough support,” Pankhurst said.<\/p>\n

“It’s like the noose around your neck keeps getting tighter and tighter.<\/p>\n

“So, Australia Post is a big part of what we do, and the caf\u00e9, and these new ventures.<\/p>\n

“And this is where the community can come together in a variety of ways.”<\/p>\n

Pankhurst feels a responsibility to care for the land and the community, and has his faith and future invested in the project, with significant earthworks and restoration of two heritage-listed outbuildings as historic and multipurpose creative venues.<\/p>\n

“I don’t have a million dollars, but I bought the business and now I’m improving the land because I’ve got a long-term lease,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Jasen Pankhurst has a vision and is bringing the riverside location into its next incarnation. Photo: DAVID COPE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I’m going to be there for a time, and even after I’ve gone, I hope this is setting a new cycle, a system, for the space and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The father of three teenage boys, Pankhurst has a catch in his throat when speaking about his multi-generational vision.<\/p>\n

“We’re fostering creative activities for everyone, young people and the older community,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Our older residents have so much to give, even when their bodies fail, they have such wisdom to contribute.<\/p>\n

“And our young, well, my boys are, they are the centre, and yeah, they’re proud of all this.”<\/p>\n

Condong General Store’s first birthday and inaugural artisanal markets on Saturday run from 10 am to 3 pm.<\/p>\n

For information, visit facebook.com\/stampandgrind<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE Condong General Store is celebrating its first anniversary under new ownership and launching the next chapter of its evolution as a creative, collaborative community hub. A birthday event coinciding with the inaugural Condong Artisan Markets will fill the riverside precinct with colour and life this Saturday, July 5. Longtime Northern Rivers local Jasen Pankhurst […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":228,"featured_media":108194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-108193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA creative vision for Condong General Store - Tweed Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Celebrate Condong General Store's first anniversary with new owners! 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