Takeaway shop’s road to recovery
A mobile fish and chip shop has risen from the ashes of an iconic South Taranaki takeaway.
Fish, Chips and More, a fixture on SH45 on Opunake’s main street for 50 years, was nearly destroyed by fire in November and remains closed.
In the meantime, business owner Alison Hayward has set up a kitchen in a trailer, conscious the summer crowds were coming and there would be tummies to fill.
‘‘It’s prime time in Opunake and the holiday season and campers so I feel a moral obligation to provide a service and we can’t do it in the shop,’’ she said.
‘‘When you have a fire the bills don’t go away.’’
Hayward has gone into partnership with her sister Daphne Holley and will be helped by her daughter Courtney.
‘‘We’ve named the new business Phoenix 45 because it’s risen out of the ashes,’’ Hayward said.
Although named after a mythical bird from Greek mythology, some modern technology will enable customers to order food remotely. They have set up an app called Regulr so people could order and pay online instead of waiting in a queue.
‘‘They could be down at the beach and decide they want fish and chips. So they can dial up their order and it’ll come through onto our machine,’’ Hayward said.
There have been a few menu changes as the trailer does have space restrictions.
‘‘We’re keeping it fairly basic, fish, chips, hot dogs, and burgers,’’ she said.
‘‘Unfortunately I can’t make my own chips because of the restrictions of the trailer.’’
Hayward said she had enjoyed having a break since the fire, but was ready to get back to frying fish in the new business.
Once the shop on SH45 was rebuilt, Hayward said she would keep the mobile shop.
‘‘I’m looking forward to that new freedom. I can travel, I could go to Womad now if there was an opening. It’s potentially a new way of life.
‘‘I’ve had a nice holiday in some ways but it’s quite involved setting up a new business.’’
Fire investigators said the case had been handed over to the insurance companies.