Out to The Bridge and back
After seven years of flat whites and fortitude in the shadow of the Manawatu¯ Gorge, a cafe owner is to bid farewell to her business beyond the bridge.
Rebecca Algie has twice endured the ramifications of the fragile hillside slipping on to State Highway 3, closing the route long term and denying The Bridge Cafe its main artery for patrons.
But, she says, it’s not a case of giving up. She’s simply putting into play plans she had before the highway was crushed by two large slips in April last year, and was soon closed indefinitely.
‘‘I’d done all the work to get it up and running. We had gone to the real estate agent a week before the gorge came down.’’
The effect of the highway closure was severe.
Algie was 70 per cent down on profits – derailing her plans to sell.
The detours and longer travel times began turning appetites toward more convenient options.
It was a scenario Algie was all too familiar with, having endured a 14-month closure of the gorge route in 2011. A massive slip had come down only three months after she bought the cafe at the age of 21.
But yesterday, despite trade picking up over summer, Algie said it was time to sell.
‘‘I’d be surprised if it was down 10 per cent now. It’s still a profitable business.’’
She wants to concentrate on studying agricultural science at Massey University and she plans on travelling overseas.
‘‘I got in to it when I was so young. I’m just ready to move on.’’
The cafe would suit someone wanting a lifestyle change and, with a few alterations, the second floor could be used as a living area.
She said the new highway should help divert traffic back to the cafe.
A decision on a preferred highway should be made in the first quarter of this year.
The four shortlisted routes are an upgrade to the Saddle Rd, a new road north of the Saddle Rd, a new road south of it and a new road south of the Manawatu¯ Gorge.
Property Brokers real estate agent John Arends said the buyer would have to purchase the property and the business, which could make it more expensive than buying a business in a leased building.
He would not say what the asking price was.
The cafe is close to a reserve and the Manawatu¯ Gorge walking track, which made it one of a kind, he said. The building was unique, with its recycled timber interior and exposed ceilings.
‘‘We are confident we will get some offers on the table.’’
Tararua mayor Tracey Collis wasn’t concerned about businesses in the district being sold due to loss of business as traffic had picked up over summer with the warm weather.
There were several occasions in December when she couldn’t get a reservation at The Bridge Cafe as it was too busy, she said.
Collis hopes a road realignment, which will divert traffic from the Saddle Rd through Woodville’s town centre, will help businesses in the quieter winter months.
The layout of the route, coming off the Saddle Rd, will be changed to make it more difficult to bypass Woodville via Oxford Rd. The NZ Transport Agency plans to begin the three months of works early this year.
Rhys Punler, who owns a gift shop next to the cafe, would not comment on his plans.
‘‘I’d done all the work to get it up and running. We had gone to the real estate agent a week before the gorge came down.’’
Rebecca Algie, The Bridge Cafe owner