Charles Norton recently emailed the Waikanae Beach Residents’ Association to say that the Four Square has to attend a hearing on 14 October at 9:30 am in the Paraparaumu Library meeting room to renew their liquor licence and requesting that anyone who can, attends this meeting to give moral support to owners Thuy and Quoc — and if you can’t attend, let them have a letter of support before the 14th.
The problem with their licence is that records show a large proportion of sales are liquor, cigarettes and ice cream and to maintain their status as a “grocer” and not a “dairy” so that they can keep their liquor licence, they must show healthy grocery sales.
Another example of brainless officialdom? Yes, but that’s the way things are — change them by electing the right people to both the local council and central government.
Have just seen this comment – with surprise to say the least ! I have used this store frequently during the week and it had never occurred to me they do sell liquor. Reflecting on it, they must do but I’m normally there for milk and other small grocery items I can readily carry along the road.
When I’m in there service by any of the family members has always been professional, polite and prompt –it is rare to have to wait as I’m often the only customer unlike the supermarkets at Mahara Place. Characteristics of the Beach are such that trade is sluggish during the week. At weekends the place livens up and another wave of ratepayers and their friends arrive – the background festive atmosphere, well behaved and distributed across the area, is part of what contributes to the unique character and I guess many would choose to use the local store to get some liquor if caught short rather than journey all the way to Mahara Place.
In the decades I’ve been there, I have never seen any negative issue with liquor around the store. The fact that Thuy and Quoc have to attend a hearing to justify their license, with the potential of revocation, yet again demonstrates how KCDC management all too easily gets the wrong end of the stick. Instead of presumption on the basis of cursory sales proportion analysis they should check out the customers. After a long uneventful week of little to report they could well need a drink!