There aren't many business people in Cairns who can say they've been in the same shop for as long as Noelene Clark.

Her popular salon Noelene's Nails was a hub of beauty, fashion and just a little bit of gossip for 36 years.

But Noelene has just made a big move to Minnie St after receiving word the old Pizza Hut building on Mulgrave Road that her business has called home since the 1980s is being demolished to make way for a new office complex.

And she couldn't be happier.

Noelene told TropicNow she was sad to leave but thrilled at the next exciting chapter for her business, recently opening her new shop at 14 Minnie St.

"I’ve got three ladies who have been coming to me every week for 36 years, so there are some incredible memories and relationships that have been built over my time in the old building," she said.

"I have some very loyal, very wonderful customers and we've formed some amazing friendships and a closeness you don't always get in other businesses.

"I’ve watched generations grow up, and in some cases I had two year old girls coming in who have grown up to be in their 30s and bringing their own daughters in."

Noelene's neighbours over the years have included foundation tenant Pizza Hut, a bookshop, WIN News and Trinity TV.

Her salon has also been a hub of community information, where the town's affairs were discussed and debated.

"We know what’s going on in town, everything going on in town," Noelene said.

"Whether it's political, social, business, you name it, we know what’s going on."

Noelene remembers the early days of starting up the new business. Her neighbour was Mike Mazding from Trinity TV, and they once had a chance to buy the building for $375,000. 

"Mike and I moved in there at the same time as young, green business people, and at one point we were offered the chance to buy the building if we could come up with the money," she said.

"But both of us had just gotten mortgages and we were unsure about buying it together so we had to pass.

"I hate to think about how much rent we've paid over the years over and above that asking price.

"It was tough to move but our salon at Minnie St is in a fabulous spot, it's bigger and better, and we’ve expanded so it's onwards and upwards and I'm really, really happy."

Click here to check out Noelene's Facebook page.