F.J’S Discount Tools Bayswater, Rosebud to close

A stalwart Bayswater business is packing up its tools after more than two decades. Here’s why the doors are shutting.

Frank and Sarah Greco with Bob the mannequin at their business F.J's Discount Tools Bayswater, which is closing after more than 20 years.

Two beloved independent hardware stores in Bayswater and Rosebud are closing their doors.

Frank and Sarah Greco, owners of F.J’s Discount Tools, have made the decision to close the business after 30 years.

“We’ve just had enough; we’ve done it for a very long time and it’s time to do something different,” Mrs Greco said.

“We’ve been here a really long time, and it’s hard work, seven days a week.”

The couple’s Rosebud store has been operating for almost 30 years, while the Bayswater shop opened in 1998.

Mrs Greco said their customers had been sad to hear they were closing.

“They have said we will be missed, and (the stores) are a destination; we’ve been here so long, people are like ‘We used to come here when we were kids with our dad’ and people really love the shops,” she said.

Mrs Greco said COVID lockdowns had also had an impact on the couple’s decision to close.

“The lockdown was stressful; we understand it was the right thing to do but it makes it really hard to run your business … it’s tough.”

Both the Rosebud and Bayswater stores are also well-known for their lifelike mannequins, nicknamed Bob, who models the workwear the business sells and stands out the front.

On Facebook, customer Jen commented “It’s going to be sad not seeing the mannequin anymore” while Fran said when she was new to Rosebud, she accidentally bumped into Bob while walking and said “sorry mate”.

“Thought it was a real person,” she said.

Mrs Greco said a group of schoolies even kidnapped the Rosebud Bob one year before a customer recognised him and returned him to the store.

The couple have also placed garden ornaments such as kangaroos and giraffes out the front of their Rosebud store, which often catch the eye of customers.

Another memorable event at their Bayswater store was the arrival of a 3m python out the back.

Mrs Greco said they had no idea how it got there, but a workman who knew how to handle snakes was able to take it away.

“It would have had to cross two roads to get here from a reptile shop or it was someone’s pet,” she said.

Mrs Greco said it had been a challenge taking on the bigger hardware chains.

“Although Rosebud is such a small community the Bunnings at Rosebud constantly sends customers to us for stuff they don’t have and we constantly send people to Bunnings so there has been a good relationship over the years,” she said.

“You just try and help people – if you don’t have something you should send them to someone who does.”

She said her husband knew a lot about tools and could recommend products to customers.

“Frank is very handy and the things we get here, he chooses because he uses them and he knows that it’s a good thing,” she said.

Mrs Greco said the stores would close in the next couple of months, after they had sold the remaining stock from their warehouses.

The Bayswater site is now up for sale, with a real estate listing describing it as a big exposure investment site with development upside.

The 1398sq m site is in a commercial 1 zone, and has “strong development potential” with a seven level precedent next door.

It’s not the only business leaving Mountain Highway, with the Senior Paper and Party Supplies shop nearby also no longer operating.

The business is now based in a factory in Bayswater North.