A former factory on State Highway 3 at Turakina is being altered to house three businesses.
The first, already open, is Scotty's Gifts and Collectibles. It moved to Turakina from its former shop in Ridgway St, central Wanganui, and re-opened on January 10, co-owner Christina Boyd said.
Turakina's Scottish heritage appealed to
the Boyds, as they come from Scotland's border country. They also liked having a bigger space for their merchandise.
Boyd said they had moved into a house on the property. Their shop stocks everything Scottish - from sweeties to kilts, china and Cairngorm brooches. Much of it is second-hand.
In the food line, they can source haggis and black pudding from a Waikanae butcher and the soft drink Irn-Bru all the way from Blantyre, Scotland.
They even have a brand of biscuits for working dogs, called Scotties.
"We can get anything anyone wants," Boyd said.
Business could be brisk for them next Saturday - the day of the Turakina Highland Games.
Ian and Shona Welsh bought the factory-turned-antique shop from Ken Luxton around six months ago.
He owns Welsh's Joinery in Marton, and she has worked in banking.
Their new 1ha-plus property lies between their home at Koitiata/Turakina Beach and his Marton business.
Ian Welsh said they had spent about $40,000 on alterations to the building so far, with more to come. They plan to have a smaller antique shop open in the road side of the large building by January 29. They are looking at other business ideas for the large space at the back.
