Empty since the Rivers closure on April 3, owners of the central shopping destination in the CBD have been searching for a replacement store with growing discount retail franchise Silly Solly’s entering discussions.
As the Pastoral Times previously reported, there were several interested parties when it was first announced, but there had been no suitable enquiries since then.
Also, previously home to Fosseys, Target Country and Target which closed its doors in 2020, owners had been looking for similar businesses to those previously in the space however with proposals lacking have had to look for alternate uses for the space building owner Lester Wheatley said.
“At the time Rivers vacated the property we tried to have a similar store come in that we felt the community needed, but they haven’t been there,” Mr Wheatley said.
“We had four or five enquiries since it was vacated, but we’ve had nothing recently.
“Whereas when Target closed down at that time, there were several alternatives.
“We thought Rivers provided the best selection of goods for the community, which as we couldn’t of have known at the time turned out to be the wrong move with Rivers (Mosaic Brands) going bankrupt.” he said.
With ten months having passed, Mr Wheatley said the owners will consider reasonable forthcoming proposals to start in the space.
“It’s been sitting vacant and is very costly, with the cost of council rates alone it is thousands of dollars,” he said.
“As property owners, Carolyn and I will consider any reasonable proposals and negotiate with those businesses.
“It is a large shop with a particular format.
“For clothing it has been one of the largest retail shops in the CBD outside of the Deni Clothing Co location on George St.
“With its large format, it has been limited by that.
“I have spoken to Solly and the opportunity is there for them.
“We are waiting to see what the proposal would be and if they can find a local franchisee and everything is satisfactory then that would be a possibility.
“Overall, the sooner, the better at this stage, irrespective of the tenant, as it has left a large hole in the CBD.”
Silly Solly’s is a discount retail chain that has the unique ‘nothing over $5’ position.
It has over 40 stores across the country, with multiple new locations expected to open within the coming months.
Solly Stanton advisor and consultant for the Silly Sollys Group said the chain were on the lookout to have a franchise in Deni with the Cressy St store location available.
“We are looking for a local franchisee owner for a Silly Solly’s store in Deni,” he said.
“Hopefully in the old Rivers building, otherwise potentially somewhere else.
“Silly Solly’s is the fastest growing discount retail store in Australia, and we’re very excited about the possibility in Deni.”
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