Bittersweet sale of waterfront restaurant The Store Kēkerengū an ‘exciting opportunity’

A beloved beach-front restaurant on the freeway between Kaikōura and Blenheim is on the market, because the proprietor appears to concentrate on different ventures.

The Retailer Kēkerengū has been owned by two generations of the identical household, with present proprietor Sank Macfarlane having grown up on the household farm simply throughout the street.

“There are many sentimental emotions occurring … we’ve had some fairly superb instances there,” Macfarlane mentioned.

“However we’re leaving it in glorious situation, and will probably be an thrilling alternative for somebody.”

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When Macfarlane’s mother and father purchased the freeway tearooms they added to the present constructing, and eliminated a petroleum station.

Macfarlane and his companion took over in 2014, refurbishing the inside right into a extra trendy sort of rustic, with vaulted wood ceilings, a double-sided hearth and lengthy seafront deck.

The Retailer was now a completely licenced waterfront restaurant and capabilities venue, on State Freeway 1, one of many nation’s busiest vacationer routes.

Colliers gross sales director Andy Poswillo mentioned the ten hectare property included a campground with lavatory and bathroom block, a two-bedroom condo for the proprietor or employees and a separate workplace.

The sale would additionally embrace useful resource consent for subdivision into three titles, together with the rights to construct 5 chalets for premium lodging.

The big beachside garden was in a position to host massive marquees seating tons of of visitors, making it a preferred wedding ceremony venue.

Site visitors alongside the Kaikōura shoreline had elevated by 16 per cent since 2015, with The Retailer choosing up a portion as patrons, Poswillo mentioned.

The Marlborough Flyer steam prepare was additionally a daily customer from Picton, bringing in as much as 300 passengers for lunch, and the return of worldwide cruise ships to Picton introduced a “long-term alternative” for rising lunch commerce.

The Whale Trail Cycleway at present being constructed to hyperlink Picton with Kaikōura would additionally ship travellers to The Retailer’s entrance door, whether or not for meals or lodging.

“The Retailer Kēkerengū has remained extremely resilient after two main financial disruptions – first the Kaikōura earthquake in 2016, then Covid-19 final yr. Every time, the standard of the venue and the product delivered has seen the enterprise get again up and operating rapidly,” Poswillo mentioned.

Macfarlane opened a campsite on the northern facet of the restaurant in time for the summer season, and mentioned he was thrilled to see the usually-quiet seashore being loved by Kiwi holidaymakers.

“There’s been paddle boards, boats, children swimming within the lagoon, it has been an superior summer season.”

The sale would assist him concentrate on the Puro medicinal cannabis crop, in addition to “quite a lot of different initiatives on the go”.

Macfarlane mentioned he would wrestle to guess what the distinctive property would promote for. “It’s going to go to tender so the market will decide its worth.”

“I’d say we are going to miss the folks there probably the most, they’re all superior. We’ve had a lot to do with the employees and all of the completely different folks you meet, and that’s what actually makes the place,” Macfarlane mentioned.

“However will probably be good to drive previous the pohutukawa, we planted 30 or 35 up the seashore, they usually flourish each Christmas … we are going to see them and keep in mind the legacy we have left there, one thing folks can proceed to take pleasure in.”