Inner west businesses prepare to close after Metro West station sites revealed
For decades they have been at the beating heart of life in Sydney’s inner west. But within just a few brutal minutes on Monday morning several business were told their days are numbered.
Inner West
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Businesses in the inner west are counting the financial cost of the State Government’s announcement of its Metro West stations, with historic institutions forced to shut up shop after decades servicing the community.
Business owners like Cosimo Mirarchi, who only opened up his jewellers two months ago after five years of looking for the perfect location, are now weighing up whether to close down completely or relocate.
His store on Great North Rd, among others, has been flagged as the site for the Five Dock station.
“I thought it was a joke, I had to ask ‘are you serious’,” he said.
“I just spent $200,000 on the store.”
His neighbour, House of Vape, was also greeted with the news on Monday morning when two government workers informed them they would have about 18 months left at their current location.
Owner Jay Karanouh said the announcement came as a shock, but believed the station would help bring young people into the suburb.
“I’ll lose my customer base which we worked so hard for,” he said.
“And I have three employees who are f***** now, it’s a tough one to take.”
A little further down the road is Whitfrod’s Home Appliances who have been trading on Great North Rd for almost a century.
Peter Whitford too had just had his frontage replaced, though now is considering the next step for the family business.
“It’s an insult to the family,” he said.
“We’re in disbelief … it’s a sad day for the family and the business, we’re a fourth generation business.”
One of the most historic landmarks flagged to go is the Pine Inn Hotel in Concord, which will soon call last orders with more than 50 years of pulling pints behind them after Parramatta Rd was revealed as the site for the Burwood North station.
Next door at Urban Flowers, the family-owned business is preparing to say goodbye to a lot more than the store itself after more than 40 years.
Carli Jeffrey and her husband had just taken over the shop in February after the passing of her father-in-law.
“It is heartbreaking that all of that (family history) can be taken away from you on a Monday morning,” she said.
“Where do you go from here? … it was nice because we felt like we were carrying on his legacy and now it’s over.
“In one minute your whole life has been turned upside down.”
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