After three and a half challenging years, Four Square Waipawa has been rebuilt and open for business.
The new Four Square Waipawa store is bigger and better than ever, again offering the Central Hawke's Bay town a full-service supermarket.
A fire started in the bakery oven’s flue on the 30th of May 2021, destroying the original store. Local Owner-Operators Graham and Rachel Williams recalled the blaze.
"The fire was devastating. It wasn’t easy, and we thought about packing up. But Graham and I are passionate about serving our community. With the support of Waipawa, we knew we could rebuild and deliver a fantastic result for the community,” said Rachel Williams.
“My main goal is to deliver the best for our locals- great prices, quality products, and exceptional service. The support we’ve received after the fire and while operating from the pop-up shop has been overwhelming. Waipawa is an amazing, supportive place.”
For over three years, the Williams family operated out of a small pop-up shop next door while the replacement store was being built. With its 560 square metres of retail space, the new store has officially opened for business, representing a significant investment in the local community.
For Graham Williams, the new store represented more than just a fresh start.
“The reason I carried on, even after the fire, is because I love what I do. Meeting customers, hearing about their kids, having a chat - I love it. Plus, training staff and seeing them go on to pursue their dreams is awesome,” he said.
Four Square Waipawa is part of the Foodstuffs North Island co-operative. The Williams family joined Foodstuffs 20 years ago, with Graham Williams, a qualified baker, running the bakery department at PAK’nSAVE Tamatea.
Five years later, they became the owner-operators of Four Square Eastbrook in Whanganui before the couple made Waipawa their home a decade ago.
With the more significant, fully equipped Four Square, locals no longer need to travel to Waipukurau for their full supermarket shop. The old pop-up shop will also be demolished, and the space will be converted into additional parking for customers.
"We’re incredibly grateful for the patience and support of the Waipawa community throughout this process. We’re excited to serve you again in this beautiful new store."
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