Cooper is home to some of the most remarkable small businesses in Brisbane. Each year, the Cooper Small Business Awards celebrates the local traders, service providers, and community enterprises that make our neighbourhoods thrive.

This year, residents voted in record numbers to recognise the businesses they love. Congratulations to all nominees, runners-up, and winners across every category.

Creative Arts (local galleries, community art classes and more)

Winner: U Create Art
U Create Art is a Brisbane art studio based in The Gap offering art classes for kids and adults, sip and paint sessions, art birthday parties, and a mobile art truck for events and schools. Founded by artist and educator Karen Bessell, the studio focuses on fun, creativity, and community wellbeing.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Francesca Flowers
Francesca's Flowers is a boutique floral studio and tea-house at 46 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, specialising in bespoke bouquets, vintage posies, and same-day delivery across Brisbane. The studio also runs floristry workshops and a flower club subscription service.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Field Trip Gallery
Field Trip Gallery is an independent, artist-led contemporary gallery at 1 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, owned and operated by ceramic artist Clairy Laurence. The gallery presents exhibitions featuring paintings, ceramics, photography, textiles, and mixed media works by local and emerging artists.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Cafe and Restaurant

Winner: Birdie Coffee
Birdie Coffee is a specialty coffee cafe at 803 Waterworks Road, The Gap, serving premium coffee alongside baked goods in a warm neighbourhood atmosphere. The cafe has quickly become a local favourite for its quality espresso and welcoming community feel.
Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Corn St Cafe
Corn Street Cafe is a cafe and artisan marketplace on Waterworks Road, Ashgrove, serving Wilde by Seven Miles coffee alongside an all-day breakfast and brunch menu with dishes like Ottoman Toast, Banoffee Pancakes, and Jamon and Corn Fritters. The space doubles as a curated retail marketplace stocking handcrafted ceramics, woven cushions, and plant pots.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Vecino Cafe
Vecino Cafe is a Colombian-inspired breakfast and lunch cafe at 200 Settlement Road, The Gap, open seven days from 6am to 2pm. The menu blends Australian and South American flavours, with signature dishes including arepas and poached eggs on artisanal sourdough, plus a large outdoor patio and pet-friendly courtyard.
Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Cafe Tara
Cafe Tara is a long-established all-day breakfast and specialty coffee cafe at 988 Waterworks Road, The Gap, that has been a community fixture for over 18 years. Known for its warm neighbourhood atmosphere and consistent quality, it has built a loyal following across the western Brisbane suburbs.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Health and Allied Health (doctors, dentists, physio and more)

Winner: Kirsty Eng Acupuncture
Kirsty Eng Fertility is a boutique acupuncture clinic in Herston specialising in fertility acupuncture, IVF support, and women's health care. Founded by Director Kirsty Eng, who drew on her own experience with infertility, the clinic has been operating for over 19 years with a team of specialist female acupuncturists.
Website | Instagram

Runner-up: Embody Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
Embody Pelvic Health Physiotherapy is run by Brooke Dobo, an APA Titled Women's and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist based in Paddington. The practice offers compassionate, evidence-based care covering pelvic pain, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and sexual health, with telehealth and home visits available.
Website | Instagram

Runner-up: Ashgrove Counselling Services
Ashgrove Counselling Services is a private counselling practice on Ashgrove Avenue helping individuals, couples, and families with stress, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, and children's issues. The practice is a registered provider for GP Mental Health Care Plans and accepts rebates from a range of health funds.
Website | Facebook

Retail and Sales

Winner: Gap Games
Gap Games is a hobby and tabletop gaming retailer in The Gap Shopping Centre, carrying one of the largest ranges of miniature gaming and hobby products in Australia and New Zealand. The store stocks board games, Games Workshop products, Dungeons and Dragons, paints, and tools, with local pickup and national shipping available.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Labels Loved
Labels Loved is a pre-loved designer women's clothing boutique in a Queenslander cottage at 116 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, founded by Jody Kinsella in 2022. The store sells high-end fashion labels at approximately one third of their original retail price and offers one-on-one personal styling sessions.
Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Friendly Grocer
Friendly Grocer is an independent grocery retailer serving the Bardon community from their location at 60 Macgregor Terrace. The store is stocked with fresh produce and pantry essentials and is independently owned and operated.
Website | Facebook

Professional Services (finance, cleaning, real estate and more)

Winner: Carmen Briggs Harcourts Property Centre
Carmen Briggs is a leading real estate agent with Harcourts Property Centre Inner West, based at The Gap, specialising in residential property sales across Brisbane's inner-west suburbs. She is the first sales consultant in Harcourts Australia's history to receive a One Billion Dollar Pin for career sales and has been ranked No. 1 agent in Queensland multiple times over the past decade.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: SC Lennon and Associates
SC Lennon and Associates is a Brisbane-based specialist consultancy founded by Sasha Lennon, with over 30 years' experience in economic development. The firm provides strategic advice on economic development policy, investment attraction, and socio-economic research for governments, universities, and businesses across Australia.
Website

Runner-up: Craig Ray and Associates
Craig Ray and Associates is a solicitor practice established in 1989 at The Gap Village, providing legal services in property law, conveyancing, wills and estate planning, and family law. The firm has built its reputation on personal, friendly service and strong word-of-mouth referrals over more than 30 years.
Website

Social Enterprise and Community Focus

Winner: Alexandra Street Op Shop
Alexandra Street Op Shop is a volunteer-run charity op shop at 18 Alexandra Street, Paddington, open Wednesday to Saturday, with proceeds supporting domestic violence survivor services and a local women's shelter. The shop stocks clothing, collectables, and bric-a-brac as a grassroots community operation.
Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: The Western Echo
The Western Echo is an independently owned, free community news magazine published monthly since 1994, covering Brisbane's western suburbs including The Gap, Ashgrove, Bardon, and Paddington. Delivered to homes, businesses, and community locations, it welcomes editorial contributions from local groups, clubs, and schools.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Paddington Then and Now
Paddington Then and Now is a community history organisation sharing local history and stories for Paddington, Bardon, Red Hill, and surrounding suburbs. The group operates a local history library at the Briswest Centre on Latrobe Terrace, runs family history workshops, and hosts the annual Paddington Heritage Festival each August.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Wellbeing and Fitness (gyms, sports and more)

Winner: Studio Pilates The Gap
Studio Pilates The Gap is a reformer Pilates studio in The Gap Village Shopping Centre, delivering 40-minute workouts designed by physiotherapists and suitable for all ages and fitness levels. The studio offers a premium experience with hardwood floors and custom reformers.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: U&I Pilates
U&I Pilates is a boutique studio at 1/64 Macgregor Terrace, Bardon, offering mat, reformer, and barre Pilates classes in a community-focused environment. The studio also offers online classes for members who prefer to work out from home.
Website

Runner-up: Studio Pilates Ashgrove
Studio Pilates Ashgrove is a reformer Pilates studio at 249 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove, offering 40-minute workouts scientifically sequenced by physiotherapists to improve strength, tone, and posture. Classes are suitable for all ages and abilities.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Beauty and Hairdressing

Winner: Savvy Hair
Savvy Hair Artistry is an award-winning hair salon in Ashgrove led by owner and stylist Taleah Pickering, specialising in blondes, foils, hair extensions, and blowouts. The salon offers Afterpay with complimentary wine and cheeseboard during longer appointments.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: The Brow Bar
The Brow Bar is Brisbane's original eyebrow salon, founded by the Silk Sisters with over 21 years in business and multiple Brisbane locations including Paddington. They offer eyebrow shaping and tattooing, eyelash extensions, lash lifts, tinting, waxing, and makeup services.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Gals and Guys Hairdresser
Gals and Guys is a unisex hair salon in the heart of Paddington, welcoming all clients regardless of gender or hair type. The salon prides itself on being an inclusive, all-welcome space offering professional haircutting and styling services.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Bars and Breweries

Winner: Freya Cafe Milton
Freya Cafe and Wine Bar on Railway Terrace, Milton, is inspired by the Danish concept of Hygge, offering specialty coffee, bagels, and tea by day before transitioning into a neighbourhood wine bar with small share plates by evening. The venue brings a warm, cosy atmosphere to the heart of Milton.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Blind Tiger
Blind Tiger Bar is a vintage-inspired bar in The Gap with an exceptional spirits collection of over 75 gins and 23 whiskies, plus craft beers and artisan wines. The venue pairs its drinks with share-platter style Asian cuisine in a warm, bygone-era atmosphere.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Franks Social
Frank's Social Club is a deli cafe and neighbourhood wine bar on Latrobe Terrace, Paddington, set in a heritage row of shops with exposed brick and original timber floors. By day it serves locally roasted coffee and gourmet toasties; by evening it becomes a wine bar with charcuterie, cheese boards, and cocktails.
Facebook | Instagram

Trade and Services (painting, construction, electrical and more)

Winner: Bernard Building
Bernard Building is a Brisbane carpentry and construction specialist focused on decks, external staircases, and renovations, designing and building custom timber decks, pergolas, and outdoor stairs for residential clients across Brisbane. The business also carries out carpentry repairs including rot replacement and termite-damaged timber, and holds a QBCC licence.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Runner-up: Chandlers Corner
Chandlers Corner Auto Centre is an independent mechanical workshop at 3 Monoplane Street, Ashgrove, providing automotive repairs and servicing to the inner-north Brisbane community since 2004. Services include routine maintenance, engine diagnostics, transmission work, and exhaust repairs.
Website | Facebook

Runner-up: Paddington Hardware
Paddington Hardware is a family-owned hardware store at 272 Given Terrace, Paddington, serving the local community for over 40 years. The store is particularly known for colonial hardware, brassware, plumbing supplies, and paint, making it a destination for heritage home restorations and tradespeople alike.
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Behind every nomination is a customer who values what you do. Whether you won, placed, or were simply put forward by someone in your community, that recognition means something real. Small businesses are the backbone of Cooper. They create local jobs, support community events, and give our streets their character.

Jonty Bush, Member for Cooper