Change brewing at Takapuna cafe site

Grind, at 42 Barrys Point Rd, was a gathering point for motorcycle, cycle shop and car repair workers. Photo / Supplied

A property which has been off the market for 30 years, in bustling and tightly held Barrys Point Rd, is now available for sale with vacant possession.

Most recently the home to Grind Cafe, 42 Barrys Point Rd is being sold by Andrew Bruce, Marty van Barneveld and Rob Meister of NAI Harcourts North Shore.

Grind was a favoured meeting spot for staff from nearby offices plus workers from motorcycle, cycle, car repair and sports equipment businesses - but the future for the 825sq m freehold site it occupied holds wider possibilities.

"There's the opportunity - quite unusual in the Takapuna context - to occupy and enjoy; invest and lease out; demolish and redevelop or build on the back," Bruce points out.

The property is zoned Business Mixed Use, which allows for both commercial and residential use with a height limit of up to 18m (subject to controls). It will go to auction on November 2.

The 1950s' era building (measuring 188sq m) has a wide street frontage on to Barrys Point and a rear boundary fronting the Shoal Bay Council Reserve.

Grind operated there for the past 10 years but previously it housed a homeware/garden showroom; an office; a video store and a marine chandlery shop.

The present lease expired on September 30, with the tenant choosing to relocate their business, allowing the property to be sold with vacant possession.

Situated on the eastern side of Barry's Point, about 300m from the intersection with Esmonde Rd, makes this a sought after location, says Bruce.

"It benefits from easy access to the Esmonde Rd motorway interchange and is only 4-5 minutes' drive from the Auckland CBD.

Astute investors place significant value on such central locations, adds van Barneveld.

"It has easy access, convenience for customers, exposure to passing traffic, low vacancy rates and consistent demand for space from businesses seeking premises on the street," he says.

This ensures good capital appreciation, and with the recent zoning change to Business-Mixed Use, there is the potential for greater intensification of the site to incorporate a mixture of commercial and residential uses.

The building on the site appears to have concrete block and wooden jack stud foundations, polished timber floors, timber weatherboard/panel and brick wall exterior, combination of timber and aluminium joinery and an iron roof. The layout consists of a front retail area with kitchenette and disabled toilet towards the rear, separate offices, bathroom (an unconsented tenant improvement), open plan area and basement storage.