Anykuts Caringbah in final days of trade before $80m Coles residential-retail development built
After more than four decades in business, a well-loved Caringbah barber is having to shut up shop to make way for a multi-million dollar Coles residential-retail development.
St George Shire Standard
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A well-loved barber of 44 years is preparing to do his last trim, brush and sweep of the floor before he closes his shop on a lifetime of happy memories running his business in Caringbah.
Mario Mercurio and his son Adriano are being forced to move out of their retail premises on President Lane before next Monday.
It will see the end of the family business, Anykuts, after more than 40 years serving customers from Caringbah and surrounding areas.
In its place, Coles will build a $80 million mixed residential-retail development on Willarong Rd and President Ave, replacing the existing Coles supermarket, adjoining shops and a former squash centre.
The supermarket giant has had plans and been in negotiations to redevelop the site for years and is now set to build 120 apartments and several stores.
But that means Mr Mercurio will be trading for the final days at the current premises.
“I have loved seeing whole families in my shop - the children, parents and grandparents,” Mr Mercurio said.
He said he had seen children grow up and have their own little ones and he continued to cut all of their hair.
PI Computer store owner John Gu said he had been in his shop since 1991 and was only given a month’s notice to leave.
“It didn’t give us much time to look after our customers. It is sad to be leaving,” he said.
“We still are not sure where will move to next.”
Mr Mercurio enjoyed having a chat, learning about his client’s lives and imparting some wisdom on how to make wine or limoncello, which harks back to his Italian roots.
He migrated to Australia with his family when he was 13 years old in the 1970s and after a couple more years of schooling he decided to become a barber.
“I was the first one in my family to become a barber. I did an apprenticeship,” he said.
“I bought the already established business in Caringbah back in 1978.
“I have been happy there all these years. I have kept doing the work because I loved dealing with people.
“It has been great to talk to clients.
“It has been a lifetime so I feel sad to say goodbye.”
Mr Mercurio is looking forward to sharing some memories with his final customers before he gets to spend more time with his family.
His son Adriano took over the business six years ago but Mr Mercurio still worked there, helping out.
He said it was nice that his son had followed in his footsteps, did his apprenticeship at the shop and Mr Mercurio enjoyed teaching his son the tricks of the trade.
Mr Mercurio’s daughter also took up hairdressing and did her apprenticeship with him but has since left the trade.
He said he had taken on many apprentices over the years but now it was just he and his son who worked in the stop.
Mr Mercurio wanted to thank all of his loyal and supportive customers from over the years and said he will miss speaking to them.
The new mixed-use site will include a large supermarket leased by Coles and a Liquorland.
The 120 apartments will be made up of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The approved apartment scheme will offer expansive district and Port Hacking water views.
The site benefits from a high-profile location and is only 300 metres west of the Caringbah train station.
The land has been owned by Coles Group Property Developments for the past decade.
In 2020, the developer and Sutherland Shire Council came to an agreement on the building height and floor space limits.
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