GISBORNE’S TRUMP CARD
Though it shares the name of its more famous US counterpart, The White House in Gisborne offers up its own intrigues and opportunities. Jordan Gowan investigates.
From outside on the sundrenched street, The White House Cafe, Bar and Function Centre certainly makes an impression worthy of its illustrious title. Nestled amongst the Gisborne storefronts, it stands apart as a towering heritage building with lashings of grandeur both inside and out. Built around the 1900s, the dual-storey building has been well-maintained with every renovation painstakingly completed in keeping with its period design. Inside is equally as intriguing, with a myriad of rooms serving as areas for the business’ different functions. From the spacious upstairs bar which can hold up to 350 to the elegant dining of the President room to the hidden garden bar at the back of the property, there’s so much to explore. With capacity to hold up to 500 guests and the ability to run separate functions at the same time, it’s little wonder the building has played host to many weddings, business conferences, birthdays, Christmas parties and community events over the years. As well as the function rooms, there’s cafe facilities and 4-5 individual bars, including the downstairs cocktail bar and the Tapas room, which with its modern design creates a striking contrast against the traditional look of the other rooms. Operational as ‘The White House’ since manager Kathryn took over the lease two years ago, this iconic building comes to market in an extremely rare opportunity as a building & business purchase. Located in the inner city on Peel Street, with good foot traffic and surrounded by national retail tenants such as Smiths City, Briscoes, Rebel Sports and Mediaworks, it’s a safe investment to continue the current cafe/bar and function centre business - or you could change track entirely and convert to a luxury B&B, hostel or potentially a mix of apartments and retail. Soaking in the warm Gisborne sun, one can only imagine the possibilities at The White House, on offer in an area where tourism is currently booming and the beautiful East Coast beaches are mere blocks away. Find your slice of heaven and an income potential here - as the President would say: “It’s a deal.”