by Kelly Makiha kelly.makiha@dailypost.co.nz
Business is looking up in the bleak hospitality industry with plans for the reopening of three currently closed bars and an ice cream shop in Rotorua.
The Shed and Brass have been sold with major reopenings planned for the start of next month. Fenton's
bar and ice cream shop Gelatamore are also about to reopen after temporary closures.
The new owner of The Shed is remaining anonymous for at least another week but told The Daily Post yesterday the Amohau St bar would reopen on Monday August 4 under new management.
The Shed was opened in December last year by Stu Orr from Taupo, who invested more than $1 million in the project following the success of his first Shed bar in Taupo.
Brass, formerly Fuze, on the corner of Tutanekai and Pukaki Sts, has been closed since April. It was owned by three Rotorua firemen.
One of the firemen, Terry Robinson, told The Daily Post yesterday he was thrilled the bar had finally been sold.
"I believe the location is perfect and someone who knows what they are doing can run a successful business in this climate."
The real estate agent who sold the bar was Fuze's former owner, Heinz Fett. He told The Daily Post yesterday the new owners, who planned to reopen the bar next month, were from Rotorua. He said it was hoped they would return the bar to its "former glory".
Gelatamore owner Nick Kolsen said the ice cream shop hoped to reopen on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
It has been closed since neighbouring restaurant NB's shut its doors a month ago.
Mr Kolsen said it was forced to close because of the joint agreement it had with the building's landlord alongside NB's.
Mr Kolsen said he didn't know what had gone wrong with NB's and attempts by him and The Daily Post to contact the owners had failed.
A spokesman from Fenton's on Fenton St said the bar was preparing to reopen next week.
