His small Waverley shop is on the ground floor of the converted former Westpac Bank and has been a blissful browse for book lovers.
"I'm very particular about my books. Everything in my shop has to be a great read.
At first, moving to Waverley with wife Raewyn had seemed like an inspired move, he said.
The wooden shelving, with its hundreds of well bound books carefully lined up, has an old world feel along with the array of old paintings for sale on the walls and a floor that
creaks frequently.
He remembers when he first saw the renovated bank building online, next to one of the town's pubs, he knew it was perfect old-town stuff.
"And we even have sea views from the veranda at the back."
But Waverley was not a town you noticed when you drove through, he said.
Friends agree with him and say they're not happy Patrick is leaving.
Roger Cruickshank, who describes himself as yet "another financial refugee" in Waverley, said, although he loves the place, he's not at all happy that his friend is on the move.
"I love Pat's shop. Do I have to get the bus to Wanganui now to get some decent books,'' he growled.
"And not only that, I enjoy coming in and talking to Pat ... it won't be the same dammit.''
And the Wednesday community morning tea sessions at the Waverley Library won't be the same either, Cruikshank said.
Cruickshank said thankfully he, like most of Waverley's people, is a happy refugee.
"I own my home, walk a lot, know just about everyone and am on the pension, so life here in Waverley is manageable.''
The thing, McKenna said, is that Waverley is the town between New Plymouth and Whanganui where you can stop to get a decent coffee.
Even though his shop opens in Wanganui, McKenna said he will continue to commute for while.
"I'm not really in a rush to leave here. It's a great little rural town but not a business centre, sadly.''
