Store owners Grant Fisk and Christine Fisk celebrated 25 years at the helm of Four Square Havelock, giving back to their small seaside community.
The couple took over the store on the 9th of October 2000, after moving from Wellington to Havelock with their two young children.
Leaving behind careers in bookkeeping and the corporate world, they were drawn south after Christine Fisk’s mother suggested they look at the local Four Square store that was for sale next to her cafe, the Darling Dill (now Rays Place).
“So, we came down and had a look. I grew up in Putorino, a small rural town on SH2 between Wairoa and Napier. My grandparents had a general store up the road at Kotemaori, so grocery has always been in my blood," said Christine Fisk.
“When we arrived, the shelves were bare and regular holidaymakers and bach owners were used to bringing their groceries with them on the plane. We worked hard to build up the store and win back the community’s trust, and within 18 months, people were shopping with us again.”
Over the years, the Fisks have transformed the once-rundown store into a thriving community hub, employing a mix of seven part-time and full-time staff, including their son Glenn, who is now store manager, and daughter Sarah, who works part-time after having a child. Their other daughter, Grace, has been working in dairy farming at Pleasant Point, Canterbury.
The store is busiest over the summer, when tourism, the Marlborough Sounds, and the nearby Queen Charlotte Track, a part of the 3,000 km Te Araroa Trail, bring a flurry of visitors, and it remains a cornerstone for locals year-round. The annual Havelock Mussel Festival in March also creates a welcome, vibrant buzz in town.
With a 200sqm retail space and 4,700 product lines, the couple have made it a priority to keep their shelves well-stocked. They offer a range of local products and services that reflect the distinctive nature and flavour of the region.
The store provides grocery deliveries via the Pelorus Mail Boat to residents and holidaymakers around the Pelorus Sound, and supports local suppliers, including Mussel Magnet fish bait from Mills Bay Mussels, and J Bush & Sons Honey, a longtime pantry staple for many Marlburians.
It’s also the only Four Square in the South Island to sell some of Marlborough’s finest kaimoana, live greenshell mussels. Bananas and beer are among the store’s top-selling items, and greenshell mussels are in the top 10.
The team includes students from the neighbouring townships of Linkwater, Rai Valley, and Canvastown.
“Supporting local youth to get their start has always been a priority for us and, over the years, we’ve offered plenty of opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience.”
The Fisks’ community contributions have ranged from sponsoring rugby teams and supplying bread rolls for the Pelorus Area Health Trust’s weekly soup run to giving goods and vouchers for school camps and events.
Both have volunteered their time as well – Grant Fisk with the Havelock fire brigade and Christine Fisk with St John New Zealand. SHE also helped start the local preschool and is about to be sworn in as a Justice of the Peace.
The couple's proudest achievements have been giving back to the community. Over the years, they’ve played key roles in several major local projects, including the establishment of the Pelorus Community Preschool, the development of a new school hall at Havelock Primary School, and the creation of a multipurpose room at Canvastown Primary School.
“Supporting our community has always been part of what we do. There’s hardly a local organisation we haven’t supported in some way – from the Lions Club and local schools to the Men’s Shed, sports clubs, and the Havelock Museum," said Grant Fisk.
Looking ahead, the couple plans to continue supporting their town, with new freezers arriving in-store before Christmas to ensure they’re ready for the busy summer ahead.
“We love the buzz of summer when our trading trebles, and then the quiet of winter when we can catch our breath. Havelock has been good to us, and we’re proud to have been part of this community for 25 years.”
