Automart to open 24 hours

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 7

Automart to open 24 hours

As from today the Bealey Automart at the corner of Bealey Avenue and Barbadoes Street is open 24 hours a day for petrol, L.P.G., milk, bread, and videos — anything a motorist or local resident may need.

It has been about 15 months since the husband and wife team, Mr Murray and Mrs Joan Spackman took over the comer petrol station, but during that short period the corner has been transformed into a more attractive and functional space for vehicles to move in and out of.

As a part-time tutor in Small Business Management, Mr Spackman often finds it very hectic trying to divide his time between his students at Polytechnic and his own business. Mrs Spackman, however, is as much involved in the business as her husband organising the administrative side. Without her, Mr Spackman says, he would

not be able to run the business.

With Mr Spackman, as a qualified accountant, and Mrs Spackman, with her grounding to accountancy, the business has grown rapidly since they took ownership.

One of the first tasks tackled was to open up the station on to Barbadoes Street. This being successful, the petrol station was then totally renovated until there was little trace left of the old dilapidated petrol station that once stood there.

Mr Spackman says there have been some very favourable comments from neighbours about the way they had “cleaned up” the corner which for so long had been neglected. Mr Spackman sees it as one of the initial steps to redeveloping that part of Bealey Avenue. “A lot of the motels and hotels in this area are doing their bit to upgrade their parts of

Bealey Avenue. Making this petrol station more up-market is our little contribution to the community around us,” he said.

Now that the petrol station is near completion as far as appearances go, Mr and Mrs Spackman are looking to expand their services which already provide more than many other stations around Christchurch. Some of the more unusual services provided are drycleaning, steam cleaning, photocopying, film processing, magazines, fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, and bread and milk. There is a large range of groceries, hot food, frozen food and drinks sold also.

Most importantly, full workshop and L.P.G. facilities are available. Everything from tyre punctures to total overhauls are taken care of by the efficient staff, says Mr Spackman.