Hard Drive Cafe has lots of potential

AREMOTE cafe with potential for a liquor license and expansion into backpacker accommodation is for sale in a town without a pub.

The aptly named Hard Drive Cafe, in Matawai on State Highway 2, is 71 kilometres northwest of Gisborne and 70km southeast of Opo¯ tiki.

Colin McNab, of Bayleys Gisborne, says Matawai rivals Taranaki’s Whangamo¯ mona as New Zealand’s most remote enroute destination.

It doubles as the town’s parttime grocery store and postal service in a 210-square-metre building on a 2942sqm freehold site next to what used to be a service station.

It sells pies, cakes, and pastries that are baked in a separate commercial kitchen, barista-made coffee, fruit and carbonated beverages, and individually packed ice creams.

The Hard Drive assets include adjacent land that sustains two automated petrol pumps.

McNab says this part of the property was leased out to Allied Fuel and annually returns $10,000 (plus gst) on a lease running through to 2023 with two further five-year rights of renewal.

‘‘The pumps sit in front of a large commercial structure which has the potential to re-open as an adjunct service station to the fuel pumps – with the ability to sell rudimentary automotive supplies such as oil, brake fluids, batteries, and spare tyres, for example.

‘‘For a visionary entrepreneur seeking a ‘lifestyle’ business opportunity, the substantial 200-square-metre commercial building and land to the rear of the service station forecourt has considerable development prospects.

‘‘With functional plumbing and food-service infrastructure already existing, it could quite easily be converted into a budget backpackers lodge.

‘‘Alternatively, the same space would effortlessly support a mechanics workshop as breakdown services are few and far between along this stretch of the highway network.’’

McNab says with Matawai’s pub having closed two years ago, there was an opportunity for a new owner to pick up both on-premise and off-premise liquor sales licenses.

‘‘The ‘bones’ are already in place for a new bar to emerge in Matawai.

‘‘It doesn’t have to be a flashy big-city gastro-pub type operation serving craft beers and pork-belly on bok choy. That’s not heartland New Zealand.

‘‘But with a bit of number-eight wire ingenuity and creativity, the old service station back office and workshop space could easily be a very cool country pub.

‘‘The target-market audience is already there, and is captive – anyone travelling between Opo¯ tiki and Gisborne, as there’s virtually nowhere else to stop for a beer and a bite to eat for 71 kilometres in either direction.’’

McNab says Matawai’s profile had lifted in recent years off the back of becoming the starting/ finishing point for the Motu Trails/ Rere Falls cycle trail linking it to Gisborne.

The ride can take up to three days and is promoted as being one of New Zealand’s most remote sections of the national cycle trail.

‘‘Being either the starting or finishing point for this 103-kilometre ride there is a case for establishing a backpacker-style lodge with associated hospitality operations for riders wanting to come in the night before starting their journey, or for chilling out at the conclusion of their journey before driving up to Opo¯ tiki,’’ McNab says.

‘‘Again, because of its remote location, this is a captive market for Matawai, and the business is currently leaking outside of the township.’’

A two-bedroom owner/ manager/staff quarters at the rear of the highway-facing retail units is also included in the Hard Drive property portfolio, along with a 488sqm section across the road that’s used for parking but which McNab says has scope for development.

❚ For more information, contact Colin McNab on 021 808 438 or at: colin.mcnab@bayleys.co.nz