Last days for BJs Cake Kitchen

Shirley James outside her cake kitchen. Photo / Geoff Lewis

Shirley James is a jolly woman and about to get jollier.

Shirley owns BJ's Cake Kitchen, an Aladdin's Cave for the home baker and cake decorator, but soon she will "go get a proper job".

Thirty seven years ago mum Beryl, hence BJ's, started the business in the front bedrooms of their Boundary Rd home and then expanded into the lounge. Shirley was working for an engineering supplies company in Auckland when Beryl asked her to help with the business while she recovered from an operation.

As Shirley's Auckland company was under siege from a well-known corporate raider - and her job was under a cloud - she took up the offer. Thirty-six years later she'd still there but only until this Saturday.

Shirley's reasons for getting out of the business are various but include the challenge of staying in business.

"Retail is quite hard these days. When we started there were very few shops providing the range we did. But now, with the internet, people buy things overseas and then come in to ask us how to use them."

Then there are the changing rules around food hygiene which Shirley was not looking forward to and now doesn't have to.

Shirley James

"There's always been rules around food safety. The city council inspectors would come in and make sure we were doing things the right way. But in the next few months there's going to be big changes and a lot more paper work."

But now the premises are sold, the last customers are filing in and out lamenting the loss. Anything left by Saturday will go to auction, Shirley said.

With only a couple of years to go to retirement age she's made the decision, seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and is feeling a lot more relaxed.

"I'm going to get a proper job for security and to help the bank balance up just for the next few years."