A discount retailer is preparing to close one of its two Sunshine Coast stores after eight years of trading.
Silly Solly’s Sunshine Coast franchise owner Brett Granger confirmed the Home Central Kawana store at Birtinya will close after the business reaches the end of its lease.
The Maroochydore store located at the Sunshine Plaza will remain trading as usual.
But exactly when the Birtinya doors will shut remains uncertain.
The lease expires on October 31, with Mr Granger hoping to continue trading beyond that date on a week-by-week basis until he can find a suitable premises, particularly with large volumes of Christmas stock already on order.
“All the stock has to go,” he said.
Mr Granger said the decision not to renew the lease was also driven by limitations with the existing premises.
“Our space is restricted,” he said.
“We can’t put a full frozen food section in. We have 20 freezers in Maroochydore with nothing priced at over $5. It is a big draw card. I need a space that is large enough to put freezers in.”
Mr Granger did not confirm how many people were employed at Birtinya but said “staff will be offered positions at new or existing stores”.
News of the closure prompted a significant reaction online after it was announced on the Silly Solly’s Sunshine Coast Facebook page earlier this week.
Within 24 hours, the post had attracted around 100 comments and 50,000 views on the accompanying video.
The response comes as Mr Granger said tougher economic conditions were sending more customers through the doors of lower-priced retailers.
“With the economic climate, it is driving customers to us,” he said.
“People can’t afford to make ends meet. We’re like a glorified charity store with the prices we charge.
“We sell a lot of food. Thirty-five per cent of our business is food related.”
Mr Granger has been involved with Silly Solly’s on and off for about 35 years, after starting work at a Brisbane warehouse when he was 16.
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He opened the Birtinya store eight years ago, followed by the Maroochydore store about six years ago.
“If any landlords want us to fill their site, let us know. If customers want us somewhere, let us know,” Mr Granger said.
“We want to bring the concept to the neighbourhoods.”
