The Block opens pop up store opposite The Gatwick

The Block has opened a pop up store opposite the St Kilda location for series 14 at 79 Fitzroy Street.

The shop opened with a party, attended by a host of ex-contestants, including Elyse (below, last year’s winner).

The Fitzroy Street premises will eventually be the Pride Centre where the council have spent $13 million to buy the former Monroe’s Restaurant site with plans to turn it, and the carpark next door, into the Pride Centre, based on San Francisco’s LGBT Community Centre.

The premises previously sold in 1978 at $365,000.

The Block Shop operators are Emma Garland and Sarah Armstrong, the partner of the television show producer, Julian Cress.

The shop launch was filmed as part of this year’s show.

The space had been a restaurant with a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.

The Block Shop Pop Up will service the contestants working across the road at The Gatwick.

It’s also open to the general public.

Having the shop open opposite The Gatwick is helping to regenerate a once tired and run-down stretch of street.

“Lots of neighbours come in, and they are in shock,” the store manager says. “They say, ‘We are so happy you’re around.’

“Hopefully we can give the street a bit of life back - they’ve asked us to stick around for as long as we can, which is nice.”

It’s been set up to service this year’s contestants, providing them with stylish homeware and interior options during filming.

The contestants are under no obligations to use anything in our shop.

Sharing the Block Shop space is Nood Co, the concrete homewares company set up by ex-contestant Matt Di Costa (of ‘Matt and Kim’ fame, The Block Sky High).

His gorgeous concrete sinks were featured in Ronnie and Georgia’s perfect-score guest bathroom last year.