From dumplings to drawings: the Duffy Chinese restaurant reborn as an art gallery

Posted on 17 July, 2026

The tables are gone, and service might have stopped, but things are still cooking in this Chinese restaurant that’s been transformed into a community-focused art gallery.

The space formerly housing Duffy’s Sun Doo Restaurant stood empty for years, but now it’s entering a new chapter as The Gallery Next Door, offering a different kind of service: a place to enjoy contemporary art.

Welcoming visitors from Saturday 1 August, the space has been revamped by Jennifer Baird, a practising artist for over three decades who began her career selling artworks at the Bondi Markets.

Jennifer has called herself a proud Canberra local for 17 years and says that The Gallery Next Door is her way of giving back to the creative community that welcomed her with open arms.

“The Gallery Next Door’s inspiration comes from a dream I have to own a gallery. I suppose it had been sitting waiting patiently for its moment,” she says.

“I hope it will bring an exciting venue for local artists to showcase their work… We have a lot to be proud of here in Canberra.”

Jennifer Baird.

Jennifer jumped at the chance to open a gallery that would be home to contemporary art from artists and artisans from Canberra and the wider region, but transforming a restaurant into a gallery is no easy feat.

Documenting her journey on Instagram since April – from the concept to the final stages of the fitout – only the bright red door of the original remains.

“The old Chinese restaurant had been lying vacant for ten years. It kind of found me,” says Jennifer. “I would have a morning coffee at Niugini Arabica and wonder what a gallery would look like here.”

“I’m not going to lie – I have some nerves and I know I will have lessons along the way. But the support from my family, friends and the wider community has been amazing.”

Planning to have regular exhibitions featuring the works of visual artists – including those who work with ceramics, glass and sculpture – the gallery will also be a space for local makers to sell their wares.

Jennifer says that the goal of the gallery is for it ultimately to be a platform for artists and artisans to exhibit their great work and to celebrate the city they call home.

“I have strong connections with local artists, arts organisations and local makers – particularly through Trove Canberra, a local co-op I was part of for 10 years,” she explains.

“Choosing to exhibit local artists and sell local makers’ products is an easy choice. Canberrans are very supportive of our arts community. There is no shortage of local talent.”

To mark the launch of The Gallery Next Door, the first exhibition will showcase the works of artist Valentyna Crane and ceramicist Elena Bozhko-Marshall. Both creating works inspired by Canberra’s environment – including the Weston dog park and the café at Duffy – the show will be called Where we Meet.

Jennifer wants to encourage exhibition submissions from emerging and established artists and has plans to host artist-run workshops or artist talks in the future. She says that the flow-on effect of opening The Gallery Next Door will extend far beyond the artistic community.

“It will provide inspiration for people to be creative. There are flow-on effects for the local economy with micro businesses selling their products on site, but in turn creating business for them and their staff.”

“It is these tiny things that have a ripple effect for our community. If you follow a painting, object or product it passes through a lot of hands before it finds its forever home.”

There’s a popular saying that when one door closes, another one opens. And as The Gallery Next Door prepares to open its little red door to the public, the hope is it will not only make visitors feel welcome and fill their cup but will also leave them feeling surprised.

It’s a sentiment that fits the space perfectly.

“I hope they feel surprised by our local talent and inspired to add a piece to their collection – to start an art collection or leave feeling inspired to make some art,” says Jennifer.

“Art galleries are spaces for contemplation, for interaction and response, for appreciation. They are pretty special places.”