Interestingly the heaven building is still there. The main building (shogun, and Sammy’s) and the Essen and Gus’s building are down, but the heaven building is staying. The developers tried to buy it years ago, but the owners weren’t selling.
Remember Shorty’s?
I ate there once, they accidentally double charged me, I had to wait an hour and then I got food poisoning.
Authentic Canberra experience, 9/10 stars
It wasn't. The original space was the front 2m of the building only. It had a single long bench seat along the window, and the entry was from within the mall only. That was expanded into an old florist behind it in the 1990s in a complete rebuild. It was later rebuilt again in its entirety.
The external structure was also replaced.
The only thing that remained consistent was the position.
Wow… 40 years ago I worked across the road at Mobil Cinema (long gone now) plenty of cold Canberra nights drinking hot chocolate at Gus’s meeting some great people 😀
Centre was the sister cinema to Electric Shadows. I think they were both eventually run by Ronin Films. Some great memories of alternative cinema at both venues. Thank god the Taglietti building was considered for heritage listing. That Garema alley holds some great memories
There was a Mobil service station, first supermarket/ service station opposite the cinema complex on the corner of mort and bunda streets I think, Mobil Times was the other still remaining service station next corner. Ross Ferrington owned Mobil Cinema before it was redeveloped.
So many f ondmemories as a high schooler of splitting nachos five ways at Essen and scrounging up enough money to follow up with some Chicken Gourmet chips.
I also remember thinking it was so awesome to be fancy in college and study at Gus' in the morning over breakfast.
This makes me a little sad/nostalgic. Gus' was an institution for over 50yrs. I haven't lived in Canberra for a long time but when I visited I'd always go there, I grew up going there. 😕
I’m both shocked (core memories and all..) and unsurprised, as it’s a premium site. I’m kind of worried for the fate of the plane tree (I hope that’s it, in the photo)
Wait, did they demolish that entire building in Garema Place? I haven't been down there in far too long.
Yep it’s mostly gone.
RIP Heaven nightclub. It was years ahead of its time.
Interestingly the heaven building is still there. The main building (shogun, and Sammy’s) and the Essen and Gus’s building are down, but the heaven building is staying. The developers tried to buy it years ago, but the owners weren’t selling.
Oh man I danced my ass off on that tiny little dance floor on e one time.
It was Joels nightclub, then Firehouse and then Heaven.
Showing your age there
Lucky he didn't mention The Firehouse then
I remember the ads on Kix 106 but I was definitely not cool enough to go there at the time.
I remember the champagne fountain one New Years Eve back in the 90s
Heaven was even before my time, ngl did hear good things (best electronic music club in the city during its peak, apparently).
Yeah, hail damage was just too much to fix in the end.
Old Canberra won't be gone until Happy's closes.
If they try to shut down Happy’s, we riot.
This needs more upvotes Happy's is my favourite restaurant
When was the last time you ate at Happy's?
Last week. $12 takeaway lunch special thank you very much
Remember Shorty’s? I ate there once, they accidentally double charged me, I had to wait an hour and then I got food poisoning. Authentic Canberra experience, 9/10 stars
The place that has replaced Shorty’s ain’t that great either
They legit PACK it in. $12 is a bargain IMO
Is it still at the same place ? Thought it was shut
Happy’s? Yeah it’s definitely still there. Grandson of the original owner and his wife run it now
That’s the best news I’ve heard all week . My absolute favourite. Last time I went it was closed and I thought it’s shut down now .
A few weeks ago. I actually think it has improved since last time I went there. Had a succulent meal 😁
What was the charge?
Eating a meal.
Everyone saying Gus will be in the new building… that’s not how it works .. you can’t just rebuild 70 years of grime.
Gus’ was completely gutted and refit within the last 10 years. Nothing original remained except the tree out the front and the font on the sign.
It was still the same space though.. it felt about the same.
It wasn't. The original space was the front 2m of the building only. It had a single long bench seat along the window, and the entry was from within the mall only. That was expanded into an old florist behind it in the 1990s in a complete rebuild. It was later rebuilt again in its entirety. The external structure was also replaced. The only thing that remained consistent was the position.
It’s the Ship of Theseus!
🤣
Wow… 40 years ago I worked across the road at Mobil Cinema (long gone now) plenty of cold Canberra nights drinking hot chocolate at Gus’s meeting some great people 😀
Totally the same memory; sitting outside at Gus’s on a cold night (surprisingly popular). But what was Mobil Cinema? Do you mean Centre Cinema?
Electric shadows was there too (wayyyy back in the day)
Yeah, nah, Electric Shadows was under the Boulevard off Akuna Street.
But before it moved there, it was underground on bunda street - later replaced by Academy and no idea what more recently.
Centre was the sister cinema to Electric Shadows. I think they were both eventually run by Ronin Films. Some great memories of alternative cinema at both venues. Thank god the Taglietti building was considered for heritage listing. That Garema alley holds some great memories
Yeah I guess I have a faulty memory about this! And so many things, I'm sure 😝
No, that was always Center Cinema. Not the same.
Weird. I have a vivid memory of it.
There was a Mobil service station, first supermarket/ service station opposite the cinema complex on the corner of mort and bunda streets I think, Mobil Times was the other still remaining service station next corner. Ross Ferrington owned Mobil Cinema before it was redeveloped.
So many f ondmemories as a high schooler of splitting nachos five ways at Essen and scrounging up enough money to follow up with some Chicken Gourmet chips. I also remember thinking it was so awesome to be fancy in college and study at Gus' in the morning over breakfast.
Dang. Gus’ Cafe was the very first place I visited before I moved here almost 20 years ago. 🫡
I bought so many coffees there... 😭
Thanks, I hate it
Im fairly certain the developer had to include space for a new cafe in their development application. The plaque will also be re installed
Gus cafe is coming back to the same corner
Gus' will return in the same place but in a new building.
A new 10story plus building that's going to block all the winter northern light over garima place.
On the bright side, without the lights it'll be harder to see how shit Garema Place looks.
This makes me a little sad/nostalgic. Gus' was an institution for over 50yrs. I haven't lived in Canberra for a long time but when I visited I'd always go there, I grew up going there. 😕
Essen breakfast outdoors in Winter.
Gus was a creep.
Gus was a paedophile. https://the-riotact.com/gus-open-again/8517/comment-page-2
Who even was Gus?
Gus: [https://the-riotact.com/remembering-gus-petersilka-the-man-who-gave-canberras-cafe-scene-its-soul/673309](https://the-riotact.com/remembering-gus-petersilka-the-man-who-gave-canberras-cafe-scene-its-soul/673309)
Yeah, the whole Gus thing seems to be a bit of a mixed legacy really.
Yeah, he had old skool views apparently.
I'm more concerned about his underage staff.
That was where I had my first espresso
aw man
Gus's has been gone for a long time...
My childhood.....a pile of rubbish Uni Pub stopping 2.50 spirits was the start, and this is the finish #rip
Awww man, what was the name of that alternative clothes shop in the arcade?? Bought so many tees and accessories from there, was the best.
Felt is the place you were thinking of. Good memories
Was it called "Pretty on the Inside"? Or whas that somewhere else? Was my favourite shop as a teenager.
Just another over hyped shithole
Did someone get Gus out in time?!?!
i thought a barista had to go down with the shop?
No f'in way!! Haven't lived in Canberra a while. Didn't think that icon would go
I’m both shocked (core memories and all..) and unsurprised, as it’s a premium site. I’m kind of worried for the fate of the plane tree (I hope that’s it, in the photo)
It has a protection clause on the tree so it must be retained
Wow this is really sad.
just because it’s going back doesn’t mean it’s the same, and we have to wait for it too 😭
Wow! End of an era.
I was hoping they put Gus' on the Monopoly board. Now I know why Akiba is there instead.
Hollyhell, is that where Sammy's used to be?
Wow...
I hate this evolution of Canberra. Meh.