Bunnings to open mid-2023
The distinctive green cladding is going up and a date has been confirmed for the opening of a new Bunnings store in Timaru.
Director of Bunnings New Zealand Ben Camire said work on the new store is progressing well at the Showgrounds Hill retail development site.
‘‘The store’s steel structure is now complete to make way for construction of the roof and store exterior, with concrete floor pours also underway.
‘‘We anticipate store opening in mid-2023 and look forward to bringing a wide range of home and lifestyle products to the Timaru community,’’ Camire said.
Bunnings Warehouse and Countdown confirmed their tenancies at the new development in December 2020 – the same day Redwood Group Ltd confirmed it had purchased the 12-hectare site.
The new Bunnings Timaru store is expected to create more than 80 jobs across a range of different roles, with recruitment due to start early next year.
Camire said anyone interested in joining the Bunnings Timaru team is encouraged to visit the Bunnings Careers website early next year to keep an eye out for available roles.
The announcement comes just over a week after Countdown confirmed its new store at the development was expected to open in November.
A Countdown spokesperson said the company would close its Church St store in November. The closure would align with the opening of the new store.
They said staff at the Church St store would be given opportunities at the new store.
Countdown confirmed the closure of the Church St store in June because of the cost of fixing the building.
The new store, to be known as Countdown Timaru North, will comprise a 3900-square-metre store with a pharmacy and drivethrough pickup for online orders.
There would be between 90 and 100 roles available at the new store, they said.