Annemarie Florian at the former Porowini Ave site.
A 35-year journey which began with a small group of new parents deciding to pool resources to open a quality children's store in Whangarei looked to have come to an end last week.
But thanks to last-minute backing from a like-minded educational advocate the Storytime story will continue, but at a new location.
Planetarium North director Peter Felhofer stepped in after becoming aware of Storytime's imminent closure in mid-January.
The Advocate understands the Porowini Ave store was closing because the landlord wanted to redevelop the site with current owner Annemarie Florian deciding on closing in the absence of finding a suitable buyer.
Mr Felhofer says planning is well under way to reopen the doors just before Easter.
"We are in the final stages of negotiating a lease on a building in the Town Basin area which will be central and more accessible," he said.
The new location fits with the growing infrastructure and community focus in and near the Hatea Loop/Town Basin area complementing other educational services such as Claphams Clocks, plus other similar facilities and the future Hundertwasser Arts Centre.
Mr Felhofer says Storytime also fits well with Planetarium North's educational focus.
"My involvement has been very much a last-minute intervention after learning that nobody came forward to carry on the baton from Annemarie," he said.
"We're keen to let everyone know Storytime has a future."
The popular shop moved from the central city on the Vine St corner of The Strand in May 2014 to its most recent 34 Porowini Ave location next to Para Rubber.
Storytime opened in August 1982 in the Regent. The original owners, all young mothers, were determined to bring the best books and toys to Northland children.
"We wanted to make a difference, not only with the children's resources we sourced and stocked, but also with the inclusive way we did business," a former owner, Barbara Bell, said at the time of the shift to Porowini Ave.
She said the store struggled initially but slowly grew with the enthusiastic and loyal support of the community.
It moved to bigger and better premises whenever the opportunity allowed. The last move, in 2014, was its sixth.
Before Mr Felhofer's offer, Ms Florian, known to many as the face of Storytime and previously owner-manager from 1997 to 2013, said she was hopeful 2017 and the years ahead will bring a renewal in "social investment" in the community, "the kind of social investment those founding Storytime women initially envisioned", she said in a post on the Association of NZ Booksellers website.
Ms Florian said during the years of Storytime people came to browse and buy some of the best children's books and toys available.
"They also came to share the joys and challenges of parenting and teaching, and to talk about the changing role of education in our society and culture. The store's survival and development was largely due to being that community hub, to embracing the community, to doing business inclusively," she said.
"Collaboration was key. Teddy Bears' Picnics were staged, author visits hosted. In association with Whangarei Libraries, Educare and PlunketNZ, Storytime initiated and was the major driver of the Books for Babies project - where every baby born in the region is donated a quality first board book," she said.
"When Matariki celebrations became a feature event for our community, Storytime joined with Whangarei Libraries to stage workshops for all the tamariki, encouraging them to share ideas and to consider and celebrate their role in the future.
"Storytime was the major sponsor and driver of the annual Storytime Character Hunt held at Whangarei Central Library, where upwards of 200 children and their families gather to make-believe together for half a day.
"For Poetry Day each year, Storytime would build a Great Wall of Words from children's and adults' poetic contributions. And on International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Storytime asked everyone to play pirates.
"To come dressed in pirate garb, to partake in pirate parlance, to read and follow time-worn maps for hidden treasure and be outrageously silly.
"For a small operation, we've been proud to keep this very full community calendar - lately thanks to the commitment and enthusiasm of the wonderfully knowledgeable and multi-talented Kelly Shepherd," Ms Florian said.