Roger Southey’s building in Lansdowne. PHOTOS/KAREN COLTMAN
New cafe and bar coming in 2021
KAREN COLTMAN
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The large building under construction at the Lansdowne shops is for a cafe and bar, due for completion in the first half of 2021.
Roger Southey bought an old and run-down house on the corner of First St and State Highway 2 nearly a decade ago and felt the time was right for a new development to take its place.
He has Williamson Construction doing the build and tenants are lined up.
The building would have the modern schist stone exterior look [popular in Queenstown] and a combination of wood and metal fixtures complementing this on the inside fit-out.
“The tenants are to operate a modern bar and cafe,” Southey said.
“I can’t reveal who the tenants are yet, but they have a good reputation, and I am sure people will be very pleased.”
He said with Arvida Limited’s expansion of the Lansdowne Park Retirement Village [next to the Hansells’ factory], and Kandahar Village building new cottages, the area would get busier.
People have spoken to Southey about the shops and said they wanted the place to have more of a “buzz”.
Kuripuni Shops had a similar “mini-makeover” some years ago, supported by the Masterton District Council.
“Lansdowne shops are about to become a busy hub,” Southey said.
“Quite a few things are going on north of the Waipoua River, the Cashmere Oaks subdivision, the retirement village developments, and the area is about to go for it I believe.
“Real estate is doing well in the area, and more families are moving in.
“I am sure people would like to walk to their local bar and restaurant rather than head to town in a car.”
The council had upgraded the car park area and grass strip, but most business operators consider the car park to be too small now.
Lansdowne Sammies owner Sang Say has just established a laundromat and the popular Dish Cafe is to have new owners.
He said with the new bar going in as well, more parking was needed.
In November, at a council Long-Term Plan consultation in Lansdowne, councillor Brent Gare committed to taking the lawn and parking issue to the next full council meeting.
He invited Lansdowne business representatives to attend.
