Wanganui former mayoral candidate Russell Fleming was looking to buy some trousers. He said he had to come on opening day because he had a special attachment to Farmers.
"I came to Wanganui to work in Farmers 25 years ago. My favourite stop in Auckland is the Heritage Hotel, converted from the old Hobson St Farmers store."
He was very impressed so far, and said the store had been a long time coming.
One shopper from Whangaehu was looking for ugg boots, and others for the specials which finish on Monday. Mrs Lambert noticed the store had no toilets - though she said there were public ones nearby.
The store was open until 9pm on its first day, and new manager Grant Fraser said the staff were fizzing with excitement.
"How many times in your career do you get the opportunity to be part of a brand new store?"
The biggest shop in the new Victoria Retail Centre, Farmers Wanganui is 4000sq m in size, on two levels linked by escalators and its white interior is bright with efficient LED lighting.
It has 78 car parks, all accessed from Maria Place. There are 61 full and part-time staff, including three newly-created jobs.
The property's owner, English developer CJ Efstratiou, could not be at the opening for health reasons.
Farmers has been in Wanganui since 1961. Its fashion store opened here in the mid 1980s, and its home store opened in the mid 1990s.
It's one of 55 Farmers stores in New Zealand. The owner of the chain, according to Wikipedia, is Anne Norman and family.
