Closing chapters for Toyworld story

FOR SALE: Martin's Toyworld will close if the building sells at auction next month. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The end could be near for one of Rotorua kids' favourite shops, with the Martin's Toyworld building up for sale.

The Eruera St business has been operating as Martin's Toyworld since the early 1990s, although the Hintz family have been selling toys in the city since 1973.

Following the sudden death of Deryck Hintz in May, the family has been slowly winding down the business and is now selling up the retail premises as the final chapter of a commercial legacy that brought joy to tens of thousands of Rotorua children.

The building is being auctioned by Bayleys on November 7.

Vonne Hintz said if the building sold, Martin's Toyworld would close down. However, if it didn't sell, it would probably continue trading a little longer.

Mrs Hintz said her husband Deryck had been the driving force behind the toy store where she had worked alongside him for many years.

She said she had her fingers crossed the building would sell.

Bayleys Rotorua salesman Mark Rendell said Rotorua had seen a marked change in shopping habits over the past decade.

"As consumer habits and shopping choices have evolved, Rotorua, like all provincial cities around New Zealand, has seen the bigger box retailers and home store chains move out to the city fringes where larger warehouse-style floor plates are available at cheaper leasing rates," Mr Rendell said.

"Meanwhile, city centres have seen a consolidation of specialist and boutique shops ... the type usually directly operated by the owner, who has a specialist product knowledge of the goods or services they are selling.

"That was certainly the case with Martin's Toyworld. Deryck Hintz was well known in the community for his passion of toys, games, and puzzles. In fact, the shop's longevity was getting to the stage where customers who had been bought toys from there as children were now returning back to buy toys for their children.

"Martin's Toyworld certainly created a legacy, but as is sadly the way with such stores, that legacy often ends when the owner is no longer involved with the business."