Shops spark new life

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 13

Shops spark new life

The recent opening of new shops in Lincoln Village has sent a new current of life and confidence through residents of the area. Country shoppers, in particular, will benefit from the new shops, which have been part of a long term plan by Mr and Mrs Robert Giltrap, who have seen a need for a variety of small businesses in the community. Mrs Giltrap points out that senior folk will continue to live in the area

so long as there are adequate facilities. Also, the new shops will solve the problems of people who will be less able to shop in the city with rising costs of petrol and bus fares.

In recent weeks, a new dairy, butcher’s and fashion shop were opened as the last three of a sevenshop complex at the heart of the village. The other four businesses being N.Z. Farmers’, a draper, the Bank of New Zealand and a a hairdresser. Close by is a new fish and chip shop and the renovated supermarket. The village is still dominated by the 110-year-old Lincoln Hotel. Known by the Lincoln College students as “Bob’s” — after the proprietor. Bob Lyall — the hotel also has seen extensive renovations in

the last four and a half years.

“There used to be such a lack of confidence in Lincoln that two grocer shops closed,” Mrs Giltrap said. “But now we have completed the new stage, made provision to build on top of it, and restored confidence in the area. “We were confident that the Lincoln area would go ahead but not so rapidly."

In 1967, when the early stage of the Giltrap’s venture was beginning, the first three shops were opened, and now, kept in uniform style, the new building is completed. Mrs Giltrap, herself having ventured into business in Lynns Fashions, is keen to provide a sort of fashion suited to the country woman, who does not necessarily buy a new outfit every season.