Invercargill inner city businesses remain in limbo as demolition fast approaches

Friday, 30 August 2019

Pinch of Spice owner Ruby Kumari says she is unable to find a new place to relocate to.

An inner-city business owner says the stress is overwhelming as demolition looms for Invercargill's multi-million dollar CBD block development.

Funding was confirmed this week for stage one, two, and three of HWCP Management Ltd's planned $160 million project.

The block bordering, Tay, Dee, Esk and Kelvin Sts, will be almost entirely demolished and rebuilt.

The majority of businesses in the block have already exited, while negotiations were still ongoing between HWCP and some of the remaining businesses.

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Particularly problematic are the eateries in the block given the relocation costs required to set up a commercial kitchen elsewhere

Demolition is expected to start sometime before Christmas which meant time was ticking for those remaining businesses.

Manish Singh, who owns Indian restaurant, Pinch of Spice, on Esk St, said he still remained in limbo as to what he would do with the business.

'It's really painful, it's the biggest stress on us,' Singh said.

Singh wanted help with relocation costs but an agreement had not yet been reached.

He said he still had five years on his lease and did not plan on going anywhere.

'I'll be here when the bulldozer comes in,' he said.

HWCP Management Ltd director Scott O'Donnell said they were still 'trying to get workable outcomes for all parties' in relation to the remaining businesses in the block.

Singh and his family moved to Invercargill from Christchurch nine years ago where he gained work in the hospitality industry.

Three years ago he said he decided to take the plunge and start his own business.

He said his family had invested a lot of money and worked hard to grow the business which included now employing two chefs.

'It was a dream and the hard work has paid off. It should be the time now to milk the cow,' he said.

However, Singh feared for his investment saying he could not afford the relocation costs or shutting up shop completely.

Zookeepers Cafe owner Paul Clark told Stuff last month he was in negotiations with HWCP Management Ltd in regard to relocating.

Zookeepers has been at its current site since 1991.

Clark said there was a potential new location across the road he could relocate to and also another in Dee St, although the negotiations with HWCP were ongoing.

Suzie Oxley, who opened the Suzie Qs restaurant on Kelvin St in 2014, said she would be prepared to talk further about her situation at a later date but added she had not found a suitable location to relocate to.

She said she would remain open for trading through to at least Christmas and added she had not been given a date as to when she would need to be out.

O'Donnell told Stuff demolition was planned to start before Christmas.

Les Sheikh Hair Design owner Richelle Holland, which neighbours Suzie Q on Kelvin St, said she also hadn't yet found a new relocation.

Stage one, two, and three of the new development will include retail and a food and beverage offerings, as as a car par.

Stage four, five, and six will include offices, medical centre, accommodation, and a possible civic centre.