Peter Wynn’s Score Parramatta to relocate from Church St
Since 1988, Eels legend turned entrepreneur Peter Wynn has run one of Parramatta’s most successful businesses, but not even he is immune to the city’s unstoppable development. Find out his store’s next chapter.
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It’s the end of an era, but not quite goodbye, for a Parramatta landmark established by a teacher turned Australian second-rower and successful entrepreneur Peter Wynn.
His catchphrase “if you don’t score here, you’ll never score” has been bouncing off the walls for customers who have filed through his Church St store Peter Wynn’s Score since 1988.
He has drawn customers from rugby league royalty, to prime ministers, Olympians, Hollywood actors and fledgling footy players.
Now, that will change as the sports store makes way for a five-star hotel the InterContinental which will house 200 rooms when it debuts in 2025.
But Wynn’s legion of fans can rest assured the business will reopen in Parramatta and he will be there to welcome guests with his trademark friendliness, often accompanied by a thumbs-up photo, at a yet-to-be revealed location.
The clearance sale begins on Monday when all stock will sell for up to 50 per cent off in scenes that could mirror Grand Final week last year when the Eels qualified for the decider and queues stretched for as long as a footy field.
“It’s the end of an era, a lot of sadness, but the beginning of a new era,’’ Wynn said, who also said it was an opportunity to reflect on the shop’s longevity.
The 65-year-old established the business with his now brother-in-law Mark Assef and continued to play for the Eels for three years while trading in their heartland.
“I was training and playing every week,’’ he said.
“It was good exposure for the business. It certainly got us out there in the public eye.’’
Former Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald made sure the shop was christened with a good dose of fanfare and co-ordinated a parade featuring first grade players to thread its way through the streets before reaching the shop.
“It was quite amazing,’’ Wynn said.
His father-in-law Derek Gentle used his trade as a builder to fit out much of the 675sq m shop.
Running the business was more than just a wise plan after he hung up his footy boots, but a childhood dream that came true.
“When I was a kid in Werris Creek I had a little job after school in a retail electrical store and I enjoyed it and I always worked on Saturday mornings,’’ he recalled.
When he moved to Sydney in 1969, he was enthralled by Eastern Suburbs’ player Kevin Junee’s sports goods shop and eyed the same future.
Wynn was a high school English teacher across Sydney including Maroubra Bay and Mitchell High Blacktown for nine years from 1979.
Then the project for the shop kicked off.
Over the years, Peter Wynn Score has survived the light rail upheaval and Covid lockdowns.
Prime Minister Bob Hawke, actors Bryan Brown and Michael Caton, US Olympic swimmer Jenny Thompson, Australian test captain Mark Taylor and Australian rugby league representatives have visited the CBD mainstay.
“I think it’s that respect for rugby league that people have,’’ Wynn said.
“I’ve been so humbled.’’
Staff Ronnie Salem, Jimmy Boudaher, Brett Pearce and Andrew Walter are part of the furniture and have kept the business a well-oiled machine.
“I think you’ve got to have good staff and respect for your customers and look after them,’’ Wynn said.
Becoming a businessman also paved the way for Wynn to meet luminaries such as Brazilian footballer Pele in 1994 when the shop stocked Umbro, the brand donned by the South American team at the time.
Wynn was invited to a function with Pele and when they struck up a conversation, Wynn was gifted two World Cup final tickets between Brazil and Italy in Los Angeles.
For all the star-studded memories that came with the shop, Wynn says the highlight has been its “longevity, the respect the business has had in the community and the team involved in the shop’’.
He expects Parramatta’s loyal fans will continue supporting him at the new location, which is still being negotiated.
Since the project for the hotel was announced in 2020, Wynn has been with a string of health setbacks.
He suffered a heart attack in 2021 and had knee and hip replacements last year, but has ruled out retirement.
“I’m still motivated to do it; I’ve been doing it for a long time,’’ he said.
There is also the hope that the Eels will go one better than last year and claim their first premiership in 37 years.
“Last year captured everyone’s imagination; the support they received was unprecedented,’’ he said.
“The last premiership we won was 1986. So many of my customers have never seen Parramatta win a grand final.’’
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