The green light to open a shop at Dubbo Hospital is a gift Larrissa Kek can't wait to open.
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The owner of Royal Bubs n Tots in Talbragar Street hopes to be welcoming staff, visitors and patients into her shop in the hospital's new and state-of-the art Macquarie Building by early next month.
They will find a "range of gifts for everybody" and some everyday essentials including newspapers and dummies for babies.
The fit-out of the shop is underway with mother-of-three Mrs Kek showing no nerves about launching her second business.
Instead, the businesswoman tells of being excited at the "lovely opportunity".
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"I've always had an interest in giftware and when I saw the hospital call for expressions of interest I thought it was something I would like to do," she said.
The gift shop will fill one of three new retail spaces in the Macquarie Building, part of the $150 million stages three and four redevelopment of Dubbo Hospital.
In late 2020, the hospital sought expressions of interest from local businesses interested in the spaces.
"In order to be selected for a space, applicants had to meet a strict set of criteria to ensure their service was inline with the NSW government's health food and drink policy and demonstrated a clear benefit for patients, visitors and staff at the hospital," a hospital spokesman said.
"Each application was carefully assessed by Dubbo Hospital management and the Western NSW Local Health District.
"The response to the expressions of interest, which closed in mid-January this year, was very strong and three preferred retailers were chosen."
Mrs Kek was the first of the retailers chosen to operate out of the hospital to be identified.
"Larrissa's shop will be located in the main front of house area of the Macquarie Building and is expected will open in May once the store fit-out is complete," the spokesman said.
"The gift shop is expected to benefit all patients and visitors to the Dubbo Hospital, with offerings such as newspapers and magazines, flowers, gift baskets, and other small gifts or personal items."
The gift store will open seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, and 8am to 2pm on weekends.
"As soon as you enter the main doors of the Macquarie Building we'll be right there behind the temperature check station," Mrs Kek said.
Other products in the new gift shop will include essentials in the care of babies such as swaddles, breast pumps, dummies and washers.
There will be clothes available for babies born on time and earlier than expected, along with a loungewear range for mothers and "ladies who unexpectedly have to go to hospital and need something", Mrs Kek says.
Activity packs for children and confectionery will also be among the items on the gift shop's shelves.
Mrs Kek said people living out of Dubbo would be able to buy flowers and hampers by phoning the shop.
"We can get that organised and take it to the rooms," she said.
The businesswoman's small "team" will grow because of the venture.
One of the remaining retail spaces at the hospital will become a cafe complete with alfresco dining to the right of the Maquarie Building's main entrance.
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