Nationwide chain store closes

Papamoa residents are being urged to support their local shops or lose them, as yet another nationwide retailer closes its doors for good.
Repco has moved out of its site at 38 Gravatt Rd, at CentaMax next to Fashion Island. The automotive store leaves a big gap at the retail centre and follows the closure of the Whitcoulls Papamoa branch at CentaMax.
The Cheesecake Shop, a copy centre, Esquires, Overland, Glassons, Hallensteins, Video Ezy, and Whitcoulls are just some of the chains which have opened and closed in Papamoa in recent years.
Their exits have prompted Papamoa Progressive Association chairman Steve Morris to call for residents to support local stores or lose them.
"There's a culture of people working in Tauranga or working elsewhere and doing their shopping elsewhere too.
"Papamoa folk are used to having to drive to do our shopping - for years and years we have been forced to go to Te Puke or the Mount or Tauranga to do our shopping.
"Now these places are open on our doorstep, we have to support them. I think that's a big issue."
Papamoa has more than double the population of Te Puke, which sustains a fully self-contained town, Mr Morris says.
Whitcoulls Papamoa was one of three branches not included in a buy-out of the troubled chain because it was "not financially viable", James Pascoe general manager told the Bay of Plenty Times in May.
On a positive note, Westpac communications executive Luke Parker has confirmed that a new branch will open later this year on a purpose-built site on Domain Rd.
"Westpac will be expanding its branch network in the Bay of Plenty in the fast-growing area of Papamoa.
"It will be a leading-edge branch with the newest technology and a 24-hour lobby for the convenience of customers."
Also moving into Papamoa is 24-hour gym Snap Fitness, which has secured a site at tenancy T3 at 34 Gravatt Rd and is due to open this month.
And one of the empty shops next to KFC could be filled by a bottle shop if Domain Liquor's application to operate an off-licence at 30 Doman Rd is successful.
At Fashion Island, Colorado shut this month as part of the closure of 140 stores in New Zealand and Australia after the Colorado Group went into receivership.
The former Colorado site is the only empty shop at Fashion Island, centre manager Jane Spearman says. Brazilian clothing and art store B Original opened recently at the centre, having moved from Maunganui Rd.
And opening soon is Pacific Brands, an outlet store which will sell brands including Bonds and Berlei.
Fashion Island is already home to outlet stores Barkers, Bendon and Thanks, with Cotton On a "semi" outlet.
"In these economic times having a hybrid outlet is a really good thing ... it's just great to have the mix and the variety," Ms Spearman said.