Yamba Realty, Reject Shop, RSPCA reveal future of Gympie stores

A flood-ruined first anniversary at their Mary St office has left real estate agents wondering whether they want to return to the beleaguered CBD, while several other popular stores have already made their decision. Read the latest.

Monday, February 28 was supposed to be a celebration for John and Janzey Pratt, marking Yamba Realty’s first birthday at its Mary St home.

Instead, the agency’s owners spent the day, and those following, wondering what the future would be like for their flooding business.

The Pratts are among dozens of Gympie business owners struggling following the city’s worst flood catastrophe in more than a century, where the Mary River which peaked at almost 23m.

Now, the owners of the submerged shops are faced with the question: do they come back?

“We are looking at all other options that are on the table,” Mr Pratt said.

“A lot of people are.”

The Pratt’s shop, at the lowest part of Mary St, was completely submerged by the floodwaters.

The disaster was not going to spell the end of the business but it may not return in the same form.

“We will definitely be back (open),” he said.

“Whether it’s in the same location, I have my doubts.”

Some business owners have already pulled the plug on their Mary St spaces.

Yamba Realty owners Janzey and John Pratt of Yamba Realty say their agency will reopen, but were unsure if it would do so in the Mary St shop which was flooded from floor to ceiling.

Pazazz Fabrics and Haberdashery, a staple at the street for two decades, closed their doors after they were taken under by the floods.

“It is with a heavy heart that I have made the decision to close Pazazz Fabrics after 24 years. It has been a journey I will never forget,” owner Charmaine Compagnoni wrote in a note posted inside the shop’s front door.

Doggy Days grooming is reportedly not expected return either.

Many more are however setting their sights on returning to the CBD, even in the face of extensive damage.

RSPCA communications manager Emma Lagoon said the Monkland St op shop will “definitely reopening but we will be a while off as (it) was completely submerged”.

Work is underway to reopen the RSPCA Op Shop at Monkland St, which suffered extensive damage in the floods.

“We’ve had to completely strip the inner lining of the shop and we’re in the process of getting the store completely rewired,” she said.

The shop’s original wood fittings were destroyed, Ms Lagoon said, and they were now looking for second hand metal shop fitting to help flood proof the store for the future.

“So if anyone had second hand metal shop fittings like clothing racks, shelving, they’d like to donate, the team would really appreciate them to get back on their feet,” she said.

A definite reopening date would not become clear until at least mid-April.

The Reject Shop was another working towards a return.

“Before the store can re-open, the landlord needs to complete some work following damage caused by the flood,” company secretary Michael Freier said.

Repairs are underway to reopen The Reject Shop.

‘The Reject Shop will then work through the process of restocking the store.

“At this stage, we are working through the reopening timeline although we are very keen to reopen as quickly as possible.”

Other businesses eyeing a reopening date include Toyworld and Twiga Books, the Empire Hotel, the Queenslander and Turmeric One Fifty.

PC Place, has already thrown their doors back open to customers.

Mr Pratt said Mary St was historic and had its place but it came down to the commercial and emotional value of returning in the face of the inevitable future flood.

“Personally I don’t think we can go through that again,” Mr Pratt said.