Newham General Store is up for sale following the business’s closure last year and the community rally to see it reopened.
The prominent freehold, on the corner of Dons Road, was listed with Keatings Real Estate in February for $985,000.
Agent John Keating told the Express he had led several private inspections through the property.
“It presents a great opportunity for a creative and enthusiastic entrepreneur to secure a prominent freehold site with great future business potential,” he said.
“The site has scope for expansion and/or development of other facilities, subject to council approval, and for landscaping.”
The 152m2 weatherboard building is described as “in need of refurbishment” but has existing use rights to operate as a shop and general store, and includes a two-bedroom residence.
Mr Keating originally sold the property as a land parcel with permit in 1988. He applied to the then Shire of Newham and Woodend for the original permit that would see it operate as a general store. It sold in October of that year, before its scheduled auction date.
That property, with building, came back to Mr Keating for sale at auction in 1993. He also went on to sell the property at auction to the current owners in October of 2007.
In that time, the Newham General Store has gained much affection from the Newham community as a social hub and general meeting space.
“It has been a very popular spot in Newham and become very much a part of the fabric of the hamlet,” Mr Keating said.
The community was devastated to see the general store and cafe close its doors in September last year.
At that time, business owners announced they were “unable to extend the lease past the current term”.
A working party of residents formed to discuss how the community might proceed in securing the store’s future.
At the time, Newham resident Andrew Dufty described the store as “a hub of the community and a bit like the glue that holds the community together”.
“We would like to see some positive moves to get it up and going again quickly,” he said.
“We love our little store – it’s great and a great drawcard for the town. We see people have really made it part of their journey out here.”
