The Big Goodbye - Businesses Going or Gone But Look What's Coming

It’s 2023 and already a number of significant businesses will soon close their doors or have already shut up shop.

East Rd Pets closed their doors at the end of May, the owners citing ongoing health reasons as the main reason why.

United Video South City are divesting themselves of their vast, vast catalogue of stock. Read more here

Co-owner Daryle Blackler to.ld whatsoninvers.nz the changing landscape doesn’t make it practical to stay open, particularly with Disney no longer making DVD’s and streaming instead their new movies go straight to Disney+.

“With streaming there is no need for art work, packaging and warehouses and most families are set up for streaming nowadays.

A prime corner site that’s now empty was home to Graham Williamson X Factor Cars. Graham started the business 20 years ago when times were certainly tight and few thought setting up as a dealer in big grunty cars was the road to go down, if you get our drift.

Old Graham Williamson X Factor Cars yard. Photo: Malcolm Gayfer / whatsoninvers.nz

How wrong they were. Southlanders just couldn’t get enough of the big grunters. It’s reported that Graham and his wife moved to Central Otago some time ago with the business being run by son Scott Williamson who now wants to pursue other ventures. Graham has just started back at Macauley Ford.

BP Highway closed up. Photo: whatsoninvers.nz

We’ve also learnt that well known central petrol station, gathering spot and late night pie stop, BP Highway is pulling stumps, err, pumps. The gas station closed recently. Wonder what will become of this top corner section?
Read Mike’s initial story which garnered a huge response here.

BP Elles Road closed up. Photo: whatsoninvers.nz

Remember that the BP on Ellis Road closed last year. How many BP gas stations have we got left?

The biggest closedown bombshell came with the news that H&J Smith will be closing in November.

H&J Smith’s flagship store in Invercargill

Managing director Jason Smith said the marketplace is evolving once again and it’s moving away from the traditional Department Store model. “So, with an eye to the future, we believe it is time for H&J Smith to evolve once again.”

The closure of the iconic store will see the loss of about 220 jobs.

Having a great big empty store slap bang in the middle of Invers is just about to awful to contemplate. And what’s to become of Santa with no children to visit him in the lead up to Christmas?

We look forward to seeing what businesses operating now or will soon be operating that’ll take us into the decades ahead.

While we bid farewell to some familiar businesses lets look on the other side of the coin. Look at the development that has been and is going on around the Lorneville area.

Paul Jones, Managing Director of JJ Limited. checking on progress. Construction well underway. Photo: supplied/whatsoninvers.nz

JJ’s are building a new facility at the Lorneville round about. See Aimee’s story here https://whatsoninvers.nz/jjs-southland-building-new-facility-at-lorneville/

Scania NZ have started work on what will be the European truck manufacturer’s southernmost workshop in the world at Lorneville. They will be shifting away from the current facility on Mersey Street. See Aimee’s story here

And exciting plans have been announced for a new industrial park at Awarua were announced at the end of June. See Aimee’s story here

Will JB HIFI open in Invercargill Central or Old Farmers building. whatsoninvers.nz

And where are JB HIFI going? Job Listing Hints at JB Hi-Fi Store Coming To Invercargill