Rural retail opportunities to go under the hammer...

Two commercial properties in the small rural Waikato township of Tahuna, 22 kilometres north of Morrinsville, go under the hammer at the Bayleys Waikato Total Property auctions on 25 June.

Marketed by Mike Swanson, the two properties are the local garage and petrol station, Tahuna Motors on Tahuna-Ohinewai Road, and a vacant retail premises in Pioneer Road.
Both properties represent an opportunity to secure niche premises in this township which now benefits from increased passing traffic due to the recent upgrading of the Waikato Expressway with traffic heading north from Tauranga and the Matamata area, largely taking this route.

Tahuna Motors has in the main been sole-operated by the owner who came out to New Zealand from the UK 28 years ago. It’s now time for him to retire and concentrate on his other property interests opening up an opportunity for either an investor to capitalise on the only fuel outlet in the town, or a mechanic wishing to get a foot-hold into business ownership.
“There is a huge opportunity here for someone with vision and energy. The current owner has pretty much run the business on his own – pumping fuel, servicing local vehicles and providing basic grocery items in the small retail part of the premises,” explains Swanson, adding that the operation is being sold as a going concern.

“There is definitely scope to improve the grocery side of the operation as there is nowhere else to get your milk and bread in the immediate vicinity and the next fuel stop is 22 kilometres away in Morrinsville heading south, or 44.5 kilometres north at the Red Fox in Maramarua.”
Sited on 1012sq m of freehold land, the 380sq m concrete block and iron building was constructed in the late 1960’s. The 254sq m, 6-bay workshop has roller doors and the tyre bay has a large capacity hoist built into the floor and operates on compressed air.

The office and storage area comprises 46 sq m while the shop is 80 sq m.
“The building could definitely benefit from a bit of a spruce up, but it is well-built and secure. The fuel tanks are new and the owner has stated that they meet the required certification. Plant that goes with the sale includes hoists, wheel and tyre machines and various other equipment needed to carry out the workshop work,” says Swanson.

Should a potential buyer require accommodation in the area, the current owner could be prepared to offer a rental option on a neighbouring house that he also owns.
The second offering in Tahuna is vacant retail premises at the junction of three busy roads – west to State Highway One, north to State Highway Two and south to State Highway 27. The recently renovated building comprises three retail spaces with a total area of 210sq m sited on 2294sq m of freehold industrial-zoned land.

“The vendors had plans to develop the property as a deli, cafe and tourist store but a change in circumstances leaves the property up for auction for another entrepreneurial investor to grow. Originally there was a superette and takeaway outlet here and given the passing traffic, it is an opportune stopping point for travelers. With no other food outlets in the immediate vicinity, there is a definite business opportunity here,” says Swanson.
Clad in Hinuera stone with a tile-profile steel roof and aluminium joinery including floor-to-ceiling windows fronting the road, the building has ample off street parking and there is room on the site for further development.
“There are magnificent views across farmland to the Kaimai Ranges and this would be an appealing outlook for a cafe,” says Swanson.