Extra hours along with extra space

A shift into new premises, and the fact it's next to one of Wanganui's busiest stores, has prompted a significant change in business hours for the city's Honda motorcycle dealership Keown Honda.

Keown Honda is moving from its current premises on Anzac Pde to a refurbished building on Taupo Quay and will be open on both Saturday and Sunday later this month.

Geoff Keown and his team are moving into one of the former power company buildings on the Quay but importantly the showroom will face out onto the Mitre10 Mega carpark.

"Saturday and Sunday are the two busiest days for the big Mega store so it makes sense to be open on those days," Mr Keown said.

And extending the trading hours to seven days a week meant his company would be taking on another motorcycle retail salesperson.

He said an opportunity to move into the building and next to one of the city's busiest stores made sense and said being beside the Mega store was an ideal fit for his business.

"Our store will be bigger, and of course newer, but it will also provide much better access for our customers."

And Mr Keown said the new premises had turned out almost as he would want if he had built a motorcycle showroom from scratch even though it's in an existing building.

The building is owned by a Masterton landlord and is at the opposite end of the part that was previously occupied by Hunting and Fishing.

"The landlord usually sends his own building crews around refurbishing for tenants but I fought hard to make sure we had locals on the job," he said.

The building contract has been handled by Cosford Construction with input from Palmers Plumbing, Happy Electrical, Nu-Look and painter Glenn Brad, Ron Richdale Fire Services and Alarm Watch.

Mr Keown said they were looking at opening in the new store on Tuesday, October 23, straight after Labour Weekend.