Waipukurau retailer Story’s Clothing to close after 20 years on Ruataniwha St

Gerard Minehan is closing his business Story's Clothing in Waipukurau on March 26. Photo / Story's Clothing

After 20 years, the owners of Story’s Clothing are closing the doors on their business owing to family health reasons.

The store on Ruataniwha St will close at the end of March, with owner Gerard Minehan explaining he needed to step back and take care of his wife.

Di Minehan was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, scleroderma, in which she has aggressive systemic sclerosis, which is treated like cancer.

“What happens virtually is the white blood cells turn on themselves,” Minehan said.

The Central Hawke’s Bay District councillor said he chose to close the store rather than sell it because of the tough retail sector.

“In this day and age, no one is really interested in taking over small businesses, especially clothing.

“With all the costs now, the insurance has gone up, then you have your rent and rates on top, everything going up, so your margins are getting tighter and tighter now.”

The store, originally named WM Story and Co, was established in 1952 in Waipawa by the late Bill Story.

Later in 1961, Bill’s son, Bernie Story, took over, and in 1986, he shifted the shop to the “Centre Court” in Waipawa.

Ten years later, in 1996, Bernie purchased the menswear business of Taylor & Shanks and the business was moved to Ruataniwha St in Waipukurau in 1999.

In 2006, the Minehans bought the business and renamed it Story’s Clothing.

“We kept the same name because everyone knew Story’s ... trying to change it just confuses everyone, and if you had Minehan, no one knows how to say it or spell it.”

Gerard Minehan, pictured in 2018 with Central Hawke's Bay College uniforms.

The store sells men’s, ladies’ and team wear, school uniforms, rugby gear and offers suit hire.

Minehan said he felt sad about the closure but was grateful to have supported the community.

“One thing about this shop, I used to have two chairs out the front – and they were called council chairs.”

He said that with his role on the council it offered a convenient way to connect with urban and rural residents over issues.

“If they couldn’t get a hold of anyone or wanted something sorted or ask about something, they just pop in.

“I will miss that because it was the face-to-face contact.”

As his parting words to the community, Minehan said he wanted to thank customers for their support over the 20 years, both with purchases and kind words over Di’s diagnosis.

“We have had some really good loyal customers ... and we have actually gained a lot of friendships out of it.

“We have had an outpouring of incredible generosity and kindness; they have come in, hugged, loved, supported, I’ve even had home cooking.”

Minehan said Pure Sports and Leisure would take over the sale of Central Hawke’s Bay College uniforms from April 1.

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.