Canberra’s burgeoning second-hand store, The Shed, has secured a new location after an extensive search, remaining in the Fyshwick area. Founder Adam Charif confirmed that the store will move from its current Geelong Street site to Building 4, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick. The new location is set to open on March 1, coinciding with the closure of the old site.
The announcement follows a remarkably successful first six months for the business, despite a challenging quest for a new venue. The move represents both a continuation and an evolution of The Shed’s mission to provide affordable, second-hand goods to the community.
What is The Shed?
The Shed launched in September last year, nestled in a modest brick building at 3/34 Geelong Street, Fyshwick. It quickly established itself as “Canberra’s home of second chances,” focusing on reuse, recycling, and accessibility. The store offers $5 clothing and shoes, inexpensive household items, and a growing free section for children’s and baby items, including prams and cots.
Adam Charif, who also operates the removalist business Adam and His Truck and the Queanbeyan Markets, draws on his seven years of experience at The Green Shed’s Mugga Lane facility, where he spent five years as a supervisor. “The Green Shed was like a family to me. They really mentored me and set the standard for how I’ll run The Shed,” Charif shared with Region.
His motivation for founding The Shed is deeply personal. “I grew up with nothing – I had like wax cardboard in the bottom of my shoes with the holes. I starved as a child,” he revealed. “For me, throwing things out in landfill, it crushes my heart, because there are so many people who have nothing at all.”
Community Response and Challenges
Six months into its operation, The Shed has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community, far surpassing Charif’s expectations. “The community response has been so overwhelming. I’m an emotional person, and I’ve had many times when I’ve just broken down and started crying,” he admitted. “It’s beautiful. The community just shows you how important the recycling industry is.”
The store attracts a diverse clientele, from young people seeking affordable fashion to families looking for items in the free kids’ section. Collectors also frequent The Shed, hunting for unique finds like VHS tapes and uranium glass. “The free section of the kids’ stuff, the baby stuff, that’s all free … that’s been going nuts,” Charif noted.
However, the success has not been without its challenges. “We are very full in Fyshwick,” Charif acknowledged, highlighting the space constraints that have led to limitations on bulky furniture donations.
The Search for a New Home
The Shed’s original lease was set to expire in December but was extended to March. Staying put was not an option, prompting what Charif described as an “impossible” search for a new location. “I got zero response from the government,” he lamented, after months of reaching out to Access Canberra about renting vacant land in Fyshwick and Hume.
Charif’s breakthrough came with the help of Molonglo Group, the architecture firm behind the Dairy Road precinct. “I sent them a message … and they came to the party and said we can offer this one for three years for you,” he recounted.
Looking Ahead: The Future of The Shed
The new site at Dairy Road offers slightly less indoor space but compensates with a large outdoor area and essential amenities like toilets. “It has disability ramps, it’s air-conditioned, there’s toilets, accessible toilets, a change room, a little private carpark, beautiful surrounding gardens,” Charif described. “It’s across the road from Under Bakery, Brodburger, Capital Brewery, and Barrio Coffee. It’s going to be a great destination.”
The additional outdoor space will allow for more garden gear, mowers, and outdoor furniture, although indoor stock selection may need to be more discerning. To address this, Charif is considering launching a free Facebook Shed page for items they cannot accept.
In preparation for the move, Charif is contemplating an “all-you-can-carry” sale to clear existing stock before the transition to Dairy Road begins on February 12. The Geelong Street store will close on March 1, with the new location opening the same day.
Looking to the future, The Shed may expand further. “There’s been a call for us to open something northside, like Belconnen way. We’re not doing that just yet, but we are looking at our options to see if it’s feasible. Again, it’s all about finding an empty block of land we can use in a way that’s affordable,” Charif concluded.
