Sienna Art Supplies in Wanganui's Taupo Quay had its last trading day on December 24 and owner Martin Clement is already seeing some of its customers in his Palmerston North Shop.
He closed the Wanganui store because the art classes he provides in Palmerston North were getting busy, he had
a young family and he couldn't be in two places at the same time.
Sales in Wanganui were good and he advertised to sell the store, but no one wanted to buy it.
Mr Clement also owns Ochre Art Supplies in Palmerston North. He said high demand for art classes there could be partly due to Government's funding cuts to community education.
Wanganui was lucky to still have its Community Education Service (CES), he said.