Mount Mainstreet officials are painting an unwanted picture of drunken bottle shop patrons mixing with café and restaurant customers in response to an application to open a bottle shop in Prince Avenue.
Yesterday's Tauranga City Council meeting heard how 500 people had objected to the bottle store which, if granted a licence, would increase the number of retail liquor outlets to five within about 100 metres.
9 Prince Avenue where a bottle store is proposed.
The objections form part of the hearings before the District Licensing Committee this week.
The other objection is the application for a bottle store in a shop at Bethlehem Shopping Centre.
The proposed off-licence in Mount Maunganui is for 9 Prince Avenue, a former lighting shop currently unoccupied.
Mount Mainstreet manager Peter Melgren and board chairperson Jane Debenham, during their six monthly report to council's City Delivery Committee say the addition of a bottle shop doesn't fit with the organisations ideal target market.
Mount Mainstreet members primary target market is the over 30 age group women, in the upper to high income bracket.
Fashion designers, high end fashion boutiques, gift and other shops and fine hospitality give the precinct a focus on fashion food and relaxation – which the addition of a bottle shop doesn't fit.
'We don't want any more,” says Jane.
Peter says there are 57 licenced premises about the Mount, and many nearby residents are also in opposition of the bottle store.
He says the shopping centre already has three bottle stores and there isn't a need for further stores.
'No one will die of alcohol deprivation.”
'We do not need any more.”
Go Liquor's Liquor Licence application for 9 Prince Avenue is being heard by the District Licencing Authority on Friday at the city council chambers.
The Bethlehem application will be heard tomorrow.
6 comments
no more needed
Posted on 24-09-2014 15:09 | By rotovend
they dont need anymore booze outlets but people aren't allowed to drink on the streets anyway so thats an irrelevant argument
Interfering busybodies?
Posted on 24-09-2014 16:19 | By BullShtAlert
So when has Mainstreet the right to dictate what kind of shops they want? And what's wrong with a liquor shop? I guess it also sells Chardonnay which would fit perfectly with the target over 30 women shopper age group and the fashion boutiques sought. So what if there are already 4 outlets? I thought we lived in a country of free enterprise, not Soviet style restrictions. By the way, I don't even drink. This is about freedom and responsibility and not wanting a Nanny State.
Moderate drinker
Posted on 24-09-2014 16:32 | By mouldy
It is not needed or wanted. It's presence will in no way enhance the area
Bottleshop
Posted on 24-09-2014 20:46 | By rosscoo
Who cares if not want dont shop there then wont last and will be forced to close.
Why does it matter?
Posted on 25-09-2014 10:14 | By Spacenight
Maybe we should just put another Caroline Eves clothing shop there instead! Just what the demographic of this city needs, another old lady's clothing shop.
I guess they won't pay Mainstreet fees then?
Posted on 25-09-2014 10:18 | By BullShtAlert
If the shop goes ahead I guess there's no way Mount Mainstreet will take fees or rates from them. They won't be hypocritical will they? Let's wait and see.
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