From runaways to takeaways

Connie (right) and Cho Choy have opened Super Lucky Takeaways on the site of the old BP service station at St Andrew's. Photo / Ben Fraser

The once infamous site of the old BP service station at St Andrew's has been transformed into a takeaway food shop.

Owners Connie Cho and husband Choy opened their doors on Saturday, though they had hoped to do so earlier.

Abandoned since its former owner, Leo Gao, made headlines as the "runaway millionaire", the former service station on the corner of Old Taupo Rd and Otonga Rd now sells wok-tossed noodle dishes, roast meals, a Chinese smorgasbord and traditional Kiwi fish and chips.

It's been a little more than five years since Gao and his partner Kara Hurring fled New Zealand after Westpac accidentally gave Gao a $10 million overdraft.

Days after applying for a $100,000 overdraft for the struggling business, Gao realised the bank had mistakenly given him 100 times that amount. He transferred cash into overseas bank accounts before fleeing New Zealand with Hurring. He eventually was caught and pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft and was sentenced in 2012 to four years and seven months' jail. Gao was released on parole in December last year.

Hurring served nine months' home detention and was ordered to pay $11,830 reparation for her part in the offending.

The Choys have completely renovated the site and hope their new venture lives up to its name.

They also own China Town Restaurant on Amohau St, which caters mainly to tourist groups.

Mrs Cho said they had been renting the building for two or three years and now employed eight people.

She said they were "flat out" on the weekend after opening on Saturday and offering 30 per cent off all meals.

"It's a good place with plenty of traffic so everyone can see us here. We have a lot of parking too," she said.