The businesses operating within the Ohaupo building complement one another. Photo / Supplied
The businesses operating within the Ohaupo building complement one another. Photo / Supplied
Brokers say a building for sale at Ohaupo, in the South Waikato, is unique for housing a clock retailer and a cafe under one roof.
The Clock World shop and Longitude Cafe operate within a character brick building, constructed in 1912 as the town's bakery.
Bayleys sales people Alex ten Hove and Mike Swanson describe the location overlooking State Highway 3, as particularly useful, being roughly equidistant from Hamilton to the north (about 14km), and Te Awamutu to the south (about 12km).
The land and buildings at 96 Great South Rd, Ohaupo — but not Clock World or Longitude Cafe businesses — are to be auctioned at 11am on Thursday June 28, through Bayleys Hamilton.
The 190sq m complex sits on 1179sq m of freehold rural-zoned land, says ten Hove.
"These two — which are leased to the same tenant — generate combined annual rent of $28,500 net. The tenant has signed a new three-year lease," he says.
"Clock World has been repairing and selling clocks for 50 years, and today both it and its food and beverage-selling neighbour operate in a truly symbiotic manner. Effectively they drive customers toward one other."
He says it is quite common to see customers stopping for food and beverage selections at Longitude Cafe popping into the Clock World showroom out of curiosity.
"That's after they have enjoyed a fry-up of bacon, eggs and hash browns. Similarly, clock-shoppers head to the cafe for refreshments. It's all about convenience."
A vast range of clocks for sale is displayed on the cafe walls. Photo / Supplied
Clock World's boutique range of wall time-pieces sits perfectly within the Longitude Cafe's intimate environment. A vast range of clocks for sale are displayed on the cafe's feature wall.
"The exposed internal brick work, high raked ceiling and polished concrete flooring add to the charm of the clock shop," ten Hove says.
A solid concrete addition to the original structure evidently once housed the bakery's noisy mixing equipment, but it now houses the gentle and rhythmic ticking of grandfather clocks.
"There are several hundred metres of roadside parking immediately outside the property. The cafe business has a private outdoor courtyard surrounded by shrubbery and vegetation.
"The pioneer settler-type ambience of the interior is typical of many small-town cafes. It's a quality food and beverage operation equal to any of its big city cousins."
Swanson says a large rear portion of the flat property is made up of a grassy paddock that could, subject to council approval, be used for residential development.
"Ohaupo is very much a quintessential rural town — supported by the likes of a takeaway outlet, general store, garage and motor vehicle repair workshop, antique shop, early childhood centre, and a hairdresser," says Swanson.
"There is also a retirement village, many of whose residents are regulars at Longitude Cafe."
