Former tavern gets a revamp and a new life

Waimate’s former main street Empire Tavern is getting a new breath of life five years after its closure.

Tom Sullivan bought the 137-yearold two-storey building on Queen St about three years ago and has set about redeveloping it in preparation for use as space for law offices, a carpet laying business, gift shop and spit roast takeaway.

Sullivan, 66, a retired butcher, said he saw the building as an opportunity to keep himself busy in retirement.

‘‘It had been on the market for quite some time, I saw an opportunity to do something with it.’’

Sullivan said it was never his intention to reopen it as a tavern, although he initially thought about establishing an eatery on the 880-square-metre site.

‘‘It was probably after more thought that I approached people. It’s taken a bit of time with engineers reports and earthquake strengthening,’’ he said.

‘‘We are also rebuilding, insulating, rewiring and fire proofing.’’

Sullivan said the project was costing him between $150,000 and $200,000.

‘‘The refurbishment is costing me about the same as what I paid for the building.’’

Sullivan retired last year after 40 years working at the Alliance Group Pukeuri plant, just north of Oamaru.

‘‘I need to be doing something,’’ he said.

He hoped to have the first tenants in the building by March.

The redevelopment comes on the heels of increasing commercial land values in Waimate.

In September 2019,Quotable Value’s (QV) three-year review of rating valuations for all 4451 properties within the Waimate District showed commercial land values in 2019 were 54 per cent higher than 2016 figures while commercial property value was up 4.6 per cent.

Waimate businessman Gary Rooney has unveiled multiple projects in the town recently including the redevelopment of the former Waimate Hotel, demolition of its two neighbouring buildings, a proposal to demolish the Savoy building, the Country Kitchen building, and the Walker MacGeorge building, and the construction of a medical centre development worth close to $2 million – all on Waimate’s main street.

‘‘There is a very positive vibe in Waimate,’’ Sullivan said.

‘‘A lot of things are happening.’’

BEJON HASWELL/STUFF Tom Sullivan says the redevelopment of the Empire Hotel is something for him to do in his retirement. He bought the building three years and will soon have the project costing about $200,000 finished.

BEJON HASWELL/STUFF The plaque on the building indicating the Empire Hotel originated ‘‘happy hour’’ in New Zealand.