Bangalow Newsagency services dispersed

BANGALOW Newsagency’s services are being dispersed throughout the town following the store’s recent closure.

FoodWorks Bangalow supermarket has taken on lottery, while Bangalow General Store on Granuaille Road is stepping up to offer other services.

Bangalow General Store co-owner Anthony Macdonald said it was important to ensure the community didn’t miss out on offerings that had been provided for a long time.

“The owners of the newsagency wanted to make sure all the products they offered were still available somewhere in the town, so we are taking on a bigger range of newspapers, magazines, books and stationery,” he said.

Mr Macdonald and his wife Abbie have erected shelves in a corner of the store – which also sells fuel – to showcase the products.

“I think with the range we have, the new bits will complement what is already here,” Mr Macdonald said.

“We’re also looking at taking on the dry cleaning service.”

Before its closure, Bangalow Newsagency had been operating in the same location in the town’s main street since 1942.

Former owners Carolyn Adams and Richard Rombouts expanded it into a bookshop and began selling art supplies.

During their tenure a local man won $200,000 in a Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot draw in 2017.

Its most recent owners, Nick and Sasha Berry, bought the business in 2022 and increased the offering of children’s books and toys due to the growing number of families in the region.

But with expectations of a large rent increase, the couple made the difficult decision to close after a downturn in sales over the past year in the wake of the cost of living crisis and 13 interest rate rises.

Two of their staff have since found jobs in town while the third is taking a break before deciding what to do next.