First glimpse at Tom Grady store expansion plan

A Gympie businessman who has built up an empire and unblemished reputation in the past 40 years is showing no signs of slowing down as plans are unveiled for a drive-through service and other developments at his biggest site.

Gympie businessman Tom Grady wants to expand his Tozer St rural supply shop.

More than 40 years after launching, Tom Grady’s business is showing no signs of slowing, and now he wants to keep his customers moving too.

The rural merchandiser has lodged plans with Gympie Regional Council to expand his Tozer St shop and its offerings.

A drive-through service and improved parking are two of the main improvements in the proposal.

There will also be a detached building for storage and new display and office space.

The expansion would be built on land which Mr Grady had built up when the store last expanded in 2022.

Tom Grady has lodged plans to expand his Tozer St rural merchandise store by adding a new drive-through service, more parking and an additional building.

In total the upgrades would boost available parking at the shop from six spaces to 27, including one bay for people with disabilities.

The car park would be covered by an awning.

Mr Grady said the additions would make for “quicker service”.

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It is the latest project for the Gympie business stalwart, who stepped onto the region’s commercial scene in 1980.

His Gympie real estate agency was the first success, followed soon after by Tom Grady rural merchandising store.

If approved it would be latest business expansion for the business.

Mr Grady has since opened a real estate agency in Goomeri too.

He said his success came from a simple ethos:

“You’ve got to be consistent every day, every month, and every year.

“You can’t get off track.”

The track in question was paved by the hard work of 90-hour work weeks across four decades.

“It just doesn’t happen with 38 hour weeks,” Mr Grady said.