Food Drink

Barossa Co-op to be transformed, with premium brands and new design

By Lucas Campbell

Posted on February 23, 2025

The refurbished building within the Co-Op will be rebranded as ‘Barossa Lifestyle,’ positioning itself as a unique regional lifestyle store.

Feature image credit: NH Architecture, Christopher Morrison

Barossa Co-op is advancing its refurbishment of the well-established Barossa Home Living building, located on the corner of Gawler and Murray Street, Nuriootpa. This project is part of a plan to enhance customer and member experiences by adding a host of new lifestyle retailers.

The refurbished building within the Co-op will be rebranded as ‘Barossa Lifestyle,’ positioning itself as a unique regional lifestyle store. It will house apparel and footwear brands, including Country Road, Witchery, Mimco, R.M. Williams, ORTC, and Ringers Western. The store will also include a wide range of indoor and outdoor furniture, bedding, homewares, Barossa Betta (featuring Weber and Yeti), and The Design Studio, a building and renovation showroom.

*Gawler Street Entrance and car park | RDM National – conceptual only, subject to change*

The building currently includes womenswear and menswear stores, Toyworld, and homewares. Renovations are set to bring modern flooring, improved lighting, contemporary fixtures, fittings, and signage. The Barossa Co-op will continue to trade as normal during the renovations.

The existing Barossa Betta and The Design Studio spaces will be made available to new retail businesses, with a focus on delivering brands desired by the Barossa community.

Here’s the timeline, with an expected full completion date of June 2025.

Stage 1: In late January to early February, the former Barossa Sports area will accommodate Toyworld, menswear, and footwear.
Stage 2: Commencing in February, the current Toyworld and menswear sections will be refurbished. This will allow for the relocation of womenswear and homewares. The Design Studio will also relocate near the current womenswear section by late February.
Stage 3: The existing womenswear area will be renovated, enabling the relocation and expansion of Barossa Betta.

*Murray Street – External | RDM National – conceptual only, subject to change*

*Gawler Street – External Barossa Co-op | RDM National – conceptual only, subject to change*

Simon Newbold, Chair of the Barossa Co-op Board, said, “As a community-owned business and in its 80th year of operation, Barossa Co-op has a responsibility to the community to make sure the best retail experiences are offered to members, whether it’s in a physical environment or online.”

“We strive to optimise the return on our assets ensuring profits are generated to reinvest back into the business, repay debt and benefit our members and the community. We are proud that we can provide everyday member discounts across our businesses, employ locals, support clubs, schools and community organisations with sponsorship, and purchase and distribute local produce.”

*Murray Street Main Entrance Barossa Co-op | RDM National – conceptual only, subject to change*

Cathy Main, CEO of Barossa Co-op, said, “We are delighted that the community has been supporting the Barossa Co-op as it works through this important redevelopment giving members and the broader community a revitalised shopping experience. We look forward to ‘unveiling’ the new refurbished sections of the store over the next 6 months and sharing more details of the project as it progresses.”

“The community is genuinely excited as we are revamping the existing Lifestyle building to improve the customer in-store physical experience. In addition, we are excited to announce over the coming months, two new retail stores that some of our members have previously requested. Watch this space.”

*Apparel / Homewares | RDM National – conceptual only, subject to change*

While the Co-op will receive a makeover in the way of lifestyle shopping, some locals have speculated as to whether the building will look to welcome discount stores such as Spendless Shoes, Best and Less, and Kmart in the future.

Here’s what Main had to say: “We appreciate that whilst there may be a particular brand or retailer the community desires, sometimes retailers may not be ready to expand their offer to regional locations.”

“We continue to keep conversations open with local and national retailers understanding market demographics can change and retailers and brand’s plans to expand can change too. It is also important to note that new retail opportunities can take some time to finalise, depending on what both parties want to achieve.”

*The Design Studio | RDM National – conceptual only, subject to change*

The arrival of Barossa Lifestyle brings an exciting new retail experience to the Barossa and is quite a unique offering for a regional setting. Providing the convenience and variety typically found in city shopping districts, the Barossa Co-op looks to maintain the charm and community spirit characteristic of the Barossa.