Walk into Meiqi on Pittwater Road in Manly and you’ll notice something interesting straight away. Yes, they serve delicious homemade noodle dishes, but you’re also surrounded by beautiful art and ceramics. 

That’s no accident. Meiqi is part of a growing group of businesses that do more than one thing. They’re what you might call multi-hyphenate businesses—and they’re changing the way local businesses think about what they offer. 

The term multi-hyphenate usually refers to someone with several professional identities, such as an actor-writer-director. In business, it means offering a few related products or services instead of sticking to just one. Business owners are paying closer attention to what their customers want and looking for other ways to meet those needs and build stronger relationships. 

It’s not a completely new idea. At North Steyne Emporio, you can have a coffee and pastry, then wander over to the flower and homewares to pick up a bunch. At Desire Books & Records on Whistler Street, you can browse the shelves, listen to live music or join one of their monthly ‘Chew the Fat’ conversation nights. 

Vie Market in Manly took a similar approach. People were already coming in to buy organic groceries, so why not offer them a fresh smoothie while they were there? So, they added a cafe and wellness bar into their space.  

Small, local businesses are in a good position to do this. Smaller businesses can be more flexible. They can look at what they already do well and add something that means a customer will spend more time and possibly a bit more money or create a reason for them to return. Every square foot can serve multiple purposes.  

Of course, the extra offering must make sense. The best examples are the ones where everything feels connected. Customers should be able to see why the business is offering these different things.  

This model continues to grow because it works. Customers can meet more of their needs in one place, while businesses build deeper connections with their communities. By responding to different aspects of customers’ lives, local businesses become part of their regular routines in a more meaningful way.

On Northern Beaches, we are so lucky to be surrounded by local businesses that give people several reasons to visit. They’re showing that you don’t necessarily have to choose between being a café, a shop, a creative space, or a community hub. The most successful businesses are increasingly finding ways to be all of them. They’re not just giving people more reasons to visit—they’re giving them more reasons to belong.